More than 3,000 children in Elmbridge are living in poverty, figures from the End Child Poverty campaign have revealed.

The figures showed that the Weston Green, Oatlands Park and Molesey East wards had the lowest percentage of children living in poverty, at 6 per cent, fewer than 100 children in each ward.

Walton North had the highest figures, with 25 per cent of children living below the poverty line.

Three wards, Hersham North, Molesey South and Walton Ambleside, came slightly behind, with 18 per cent of children living in poorer conditions. Councillor Rachael Lake, representing Walton North, said: “We wouldn’t want anybody living below the poverty line let alone a child. It’s quite shocking.

“I am disappointed that Walton North is 25 per cent but we are still lower than the national average and hope that is due to the amount of work we have put in to the area.”

Councillor John O’Reilly, leader of Elmbridge Council, said: “It is obviously a cause for concern and we will work with Surrey County Council to ensure that none of the children in the borough remain in poverty, but there is only a limited amount Elmbridge Council can do to make that happen.

“It is obviously a cause for concern if more than 10 per cent of children are living in poverty. We must focus our resources to assist that.”

In total, there were 3,256 children living in poverty in Elmbridge, 11 per cent of the borough’s children.

In neighbouring borough Spelthorne, 16 per cent of children were living in poverty, while 14 per cent of children in Runnymede were.