THE number of children living in poverty in Britain has reached a record high of almost 4.5 million, official figures revealed today.

Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed 4.45 million children in households with relative low income after housing costs in the year to March 2024, up from 4.33m the previous year — the highest since records began in 2002-03.

A household is considered in relative poverty if its income falls below 60 per cent of the median after housing costs.