BARROVIANS are 'disgusted' after figures showed a fifth of children in Barrow were living in poverty during the first full year of the coronavirus pandemic.

Child poverty charities warn that the Government's response to the cost of living crisis risks reversing the fall in the number of children living below the breadline across the UK.

Department for Work and Pensions data shows 2,107 children aged under 16 were living in families with low incomes in 2020-21 – an estimated 18 per cent of all youngsters in the area.

READ MORE: A fifth of Barrow children living in poverty last year

Charlie Dowthwaite said: "An absolutely disgusting figure of child poverty brought on by an equally disgusting government who shows no care what so ever for our society.

"When are people going to wake up and wise up as to what the Tories are doing to us all?"

Wayne Jackson said: "Busy helping people from across the sea housing and paying them we need a slap round the face soon be a third world country."

Paul Griffiths said: "Foodbanks have increased by over 100 per cent since the Tories come to power.

"Marcus Rashford had to force a Tory U turn to feed hungry children.

"Yet Priti Patel stood in that shop in the picture and said it’s nothing to do with the Tory Government!"

Dan Martin said: "If my payrise with Cumbria County Council is anything to go by, no wonder children are living in poverty. Wages are a joke!"

Michael Fell said: "We live in one of the world's richest countries, spend £50 billion on a failed covid app and at the same time children starve.

"This is a crime and people in government should go to prison for letting it happen."

Gary Smith said: "My kids live in poverty but I'm ok cause the benefits cover my iPhone, Sky TV, Netflix, latest fashions and a healthy supply of tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

"Something needs to be done for the sake of the kids."

Figures showed of the children aged 0-15 in poverty in Barrow last year, 740 (35 per cent) were aged below five.

There were also 425 young people aged 16-19 in low-income families.

Meanwhile, the majority of youngsters aged 0-19, 59 per cent, were in working households.