The number of babies born in Kingston has risen by 25 per cent in the past seven years, according to new population figures.

In 2008, 2,248 newborns came into the world in Kingston, up from 1,787 in 2001.

Despite the increase, Kingston has the second fewest births in the whole of London, up from the lowest the year before.

The birth rate increase means seven extra classrooms will be needed by the time they start school in 2013.

But the council plans to build 15 more, to allow for all the children that will come into the borough and parental choice.

Kingston has been hit with a surge in child numbers in the past couple of years, forcing the council to provide emergency classrooms and begin a consultation to build two new schools.

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