More than half of children in parts of Birmingham living in poverty

Over half of children in some parts of Birmingham are living in poverty, a new report warns.

Research by the End Child Poverty coalition revealed that Ladywood and Hodge Hill have seen the biggest increase in child poverty in the city.

53% of children in Ladywood were defined as being in poverty after housing costs, 51% in Hodge Hill and 48% in Hall Green.

Cities in the East Midlands are also affected with Leicester rated as having the eighth highest child poverty rate among local authorities. More than four in ten children in the city are classified as being in poverty.

The coalition is urging the government to end the freeze on children's benefits so that families no longer see living standards "squeezed" as prices rise.

Sam Royston, chair of End Child Poverty said:

Parts of London and Manchester are also among the areas with the highest levels of child poverty in the country.