Most children in UK's poorest areas now growing up in poverty

End Child Poverty says years-long freeze on benefits is major factor in emerging crisis

More than half of all children in the UK's very poorest areas are now growing up in poverty as the impact of cuts to benefits continues to be felt by the least well-off families, according to a new study.

An analysis published by the End Child Poverty coalition of charities shows that the biggest increases in child poverty in the past two years have occurred in areas already identified as deprivation hotspots.