MORE than 10,000 children are living in poverty across West Dunbartonshire and north-west Glasgow, according to shock new figures.

Detailed ward-by-ward estimates show more than a quarter of youngsters are living in “scandalous” poverty, said the End Child Poverty coalition.

Across West Dunbartonshire as a whole, there are 3,083 or 16.70 per cent of children in poverty. But when housing costs are factored in, that number jumps to 4,887 or 26.47 per cent.

In north-west Glasgow, there are another 5,232 children, or 32 per cent, living in poverty.

For the Drumchapel/Anniesland ward, the figure is 37.35 per of children, the sixth worst in Glasgow. Calton ward is the worst with nearly half of all youngsters in poverty.

Clydebank Central is the worst ward at 30 per cent of children living in poverty, followed by Leven and Kilpatrick. But in actual numbers, Leven is worst with 1,152 youngsters in poverty, followed by Clydebank with 949.

Dumbarton has the lowest percentage of children at 20.38 but Lomond ward has the fewest children a 568.

Clair Coyle, trustee with West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare, said poverty amongst children and families was getting worse.

She said: “We have seen an increase in need for the services we offer, especially evident with the massive increase in numbers we seen for our Christmas Toybank.

“This year we had many more children’s services and schools/nurseries referring families, showing that these agencies are more aware of increasing levels of deprivation.

“We feel that the levels of child poverty in West Dunbartonshire are at an unacceptable level and more needs to be done to address this.

“WDCF will be continuing our support to local families this year by way of emergency food provision, school uniform provision and holiday hunger bags during school holidays.

“We hope to engage with more local families experiencing poverty this year, to offer support to alleviate the impact on children.”

Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, said the figures proved the UK government’s “appalling record on child poverty”.

He said: “Too many families in West Dunbartonshire and across the country are struggling as a result of Tory-imposed austerity and social security cuts. The UK government must change direction before even more households are needlessly driven into financial hardship.

“The SNP Scottish Government is committed to taking action where it can to help hard-pressed families in Scotland. We are investing £50 million in a new fund to tackle child poverty, expanding free childcare and early learning, and spending £100 million a year to mitigate welfare cuts inflicted by the UK government.”

“The SNP are determined to eradicate child poverty and we have set ambitious targets to do so through the Child Poverty Bill. But it’s clear that without full powers over the economy and social security, these efforts will continue to be undermined by Westminster-imposed austerity.”

Glasgow North West MP Carol Monaghan agreed Edinburgh needed more powers to tackle the issue but noted figures locally were down from 33.23 per cent poverty in 2015 to 32.05 now.

She said: “These figures highlight the significant long-term challenge of tackling deep-seated deprivation, poverty and inequality in Glasgow North West and indeed across the city. The decrease is negligible, and shows that following a decade of Westminster austerity, Scotland is resigned to fight child poverty with one arm tied behind our backs.”

Families needing support in Clydebank can contact the foodshare on 01389 764135 or visit Radnor Park Church on Fridays from 1pm to 2.30pm.