ONE in three children are living in poverty in Bolton, according to a report.

The startling statistic has been revealed by End Child Poverty, a coalition of some of the country's leading child charities.

Figures show that in the borough, Farnworth has the highest number of children living in poverty, at 39.9 per cent.

Poverty is described as children whose parents survive on benefits because their income is below average.

Cllr Noel Spencer, who represents Farnworth on Bolton Council, said he had not realised the extent of the poverty, but had always known it was prevalent in the area.

"I am aware that there are estates where the problems of child poverty and unemployment are entrenched, and the levels of these have been high for the past two or three decades," he said..

"Judging from these figures, there is a lot more which can be done, but there are already measures in place to help the issue.

"We are trying to address the problem by implementing community initiatives to make the area more self-sufficient and self-reliant, but I am sure more will be done in light of these figures."

In Bolton, 39.1 per cent in the Central ward are said to be living in poverty, followed by Derby with 36.8pc, Tonge (32.2pc), Breightmet (32.1pc) and Harper Green (31.1pc). End Child Poverty director Jonathan Stearn said: "The fact that children are living in poverty is a blight on the Bolton area. Such high levels of child poverty shame a prosperous country like ours."

Mr Stearn says the Government estimates 3.6 million children are living in poverty.

The charities pledge to end child poverty by 2020 by pushing for tax and benefit reforms, as well as ensuring the Minimum Wage keeps rising.

End Child Poverty was set up in 2001 and its membership includes trades unions and faith groups. as well as leading charities such as Barnardo's, Childline, the NSPCC, The Children's Society and Save the Children.