HUNDREDS of babies were born in the year the coronavirus pandemic shook the world, figures show.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows there were 642 live births in Barrow in 2020– 59 fewer than the year before.

It meant the fertility rate was 1.67 births per woman, lower than 1.82 in 2019.

This was higher than the rate of 1.58 across England and Wales last year – the lowest since records began in 1938.

According to the ONS, the fertility rate has been decreasing nationally for a number of reasons, including improved access to contraception, women delaying motherhood and having fewer babies.

Although for UK-born mothers the fertility rate decreased to 1.50 children per woman, down from 1.57 in 2019, the rate among non-UK-born women increased slightly from 1.97 to 1.98.

Anxiety for new parents was exacerbated by restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, with many feeling isolated and facing reduced access to professional care.

The #WhatAboutUs campaign, backed by charities including Action for Children, the NSPCC and NCT, is calling on the Government to extend Covid-19 catch-up funding to support the 600,000 babies born across England and Wales in the first year of the pandemic.