THOUSANDS of children are living in poverty in Southampton, figures reveal.

A quarter of the city's children were living in relative poverty in the year ending April 2022.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 11,128 children in the area were in a family whose income was below 60 per cent of average household income.

It meant that 25 per cent of families claimed child benefit and at least one other household benefit.

One Southampton MP said the figures come as "no surprise" as the cost of living crisis continues.

A total of 7,924 were in absolute poverty as their family's income was lower than 60 per cent of the median income established in 2010-2011.

Overall, it was up from 22.5 per cent of children who were living in poverty in 2020-21 and up from 16.4 per cent seen in 2014-15 when comparable records began.

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said: "Unfortunately, these figures come as no surprise.

"Day in day out, I see the negative impact of Conservative Government policies on the lives of children and families in our city, and I am hearing from more and more constituents in crisis.

"The Government has its head in the sand over this issue and has run out of ideas on how to solve the problem.

"The last Labour Government lifted millions of children out of poverty.

"Labour’s mission to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 will create good new jobs and will raise living standards across the country, lifting children out of poverty once again."

It comes as the Echo is running our Put in a Pound with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation asking readers to support people in need.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: "We are facing extremely challenging economic times as we continue to emerge from the pandemic.

"The rise in energy costs and food prices means people have less money in their pockets and need extra support.

"The Government has announced support to alleviate the pressures of the cost of living, including extending the Household Support Fund, by a further £842 million, some of which will go towards supporting the most vulnerable households in Southampton.

"The Government will provide an additional one-off payment of £900 to help households on means-tested benefits."