TWO-THIRDS of constituencies have at least a quarter of children living in poverty, a new study has found.

The study, conducted by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, reports that child poverty costs the British economy £39 billion annually.

This is attributed to increased public service expenditure and lost economic output due to lower earnings potential among adults who grew up in impoverished conditions.

More than 30 per cent of children across Britain are in poverty, the coalition says.

In north-west England, more than 90 per cent of constituencies have a child poverty rate of over a quarter, with Oldham West, Royton and Chadderton most affected.

The study found a strong correlation between constituencies with a high child poverty rate and the percentage of families affected by the two-child limit. 

The limit restricts the support provided through tax credits and universal credit to families who have more than two children. 

The Children’s Society chief executive Mark Russell said it is a “scandal” that one of the richest countries in the world has over four million children living in poverty. 

He said: “The first step the next government should take is scrapping the two-child limit and the benefits cap – these together have had a catastrophic effect, pushing many more families into deep poverty.”

End Child Poverty Coalition chairman Joseph Howes said: “The data is undeniable – too many children are in a cycle of deprivation that affects their health, education and future prospects.

“It is time to dismantle these barriers and the elections will provide a critical platform for committing to systemic changes to uplift families and give every child the opportunity to thrive.”