MORE than half of people living in England’s most deprived areas are spending less on food and essentials amid the cost-of-living crisis, official figures suggest. 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey on Friday, exposes divisions across the country in how people are being affected by soaring prices. 

People living in England’s most deprived districts were almost twice as likely (58 per cent) to report cutting down on food bills and other essentials than those living in the least (33 per cent), according to responses collected in the fortnight up to November 20.