More than a quarter of children in Barnet lived in poverty in 2013, according to new figures.

Figures published by the Campaign to End Child Poverty reveal that an estimated 27 per cent of children living in the borough were classified as living below the poverty line last year.

The figures vary throughout the borough, with 31 per cent of children in the Hendon parliamentary constituency classified as living in poverty, 23 per cent in Chipping Barnet and 26 per cent in Finchley and Golders Green.

Throughout the UK, nearly one in six children were classified as below the poverty line before housing costs last year, while one in four were in poverty once housing costs had been deducted from their income.

Seven of the ten worst affected local authority areas were in London, with the highest being Bethnal Green and Bow, where the figure was 49 per cent.

Golders Green councillor Reuben Thompstone, chairman of the children, education, libraries and safeguarding committee, said: “On the whole I am pleased Barnet is one of the lower percentages in London. It’s a really important piece of work, and we are really concerned for these young people who are living in a position we wouldn’t want them to be living in.

“One of the things that helps people to beat poverty is getting a good start in early life. There’s no magic wand, but we want to do more. It’s also about making sure we have got the data. We are doing work in the areas to make improvements.”

Chris Goulden, head of poverty research at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), said: “This research shows how the high cost of housing is pushing more families in Barnet below the poverty line. Any plan to reduce poverty must boost household incomes, as well as dealing with the high cost of essentials, such as housing and childcare.

"We need the government, local authorities and businesses to work together on a comprehensive strategy to reduce poverty. Otherwise we risk seeing children growing up in poverty in Barnet becoming poor adults.”

David Holmes, chairman of End Child Poverty, said: “These figures reveal just how widely and deeply child poverty reaches into our communities, even those areas generally regarded as well off.

“Far too many children whose parents are struggling to make a living are suffering as a result and missing out on the essentials of a decent childhood that all young people should be entitled to. We can and must do better for our children.”