MORE than a third of the North-East’s crisis families lack basic essentials such as beds, washing machines and children’s clothing, according to a shocking new report.

Buttle UK’s first Crisis Points study found 34 per cent of the region's “families in crisis” - defined as being on a very low income and dealing with complex social issues - go without such everyday necessities, with County Durham, Newcastle and North Tyneside among the hardest hits areas.

The UK’s largest grant-giving charity for children received 1,240 applications for emergency support from families in County Durham over the last decade, in addition to 1,090 from Newcastle and 812 from North Tyneside, plus 712 from Redcar and Cleveland.

But Sunderland yielded many more appeals than would be expected based on government statistics, suggesting the city suffers from the damaging effects of so-called “hidden poverty”.

Physical or mental health problems in parents are the main causes of family crisis, the charity says, with poverty, divorce and imprisonment also key factors.

Families with lone parents are much more likely to fall into problems, with young people estranged from their parents also at risk.

Since 2006, Buttle UK has provided to North-East families: 970 washing machines, 901 beds and bedding, 1,021 cookers and 590 fridge freezers.

Charity chief executive Gerri McAndrew said “Crisis Points shows us that there are worrying gaps, both in the North-East and around the country, where children in often desperate situations are not having their needs met.

“We are determined to highlight these areas where vulnerable families and children are under the radar so we can reach them and enable them to achieve their potential by having the essentials in place.”

More than one in 20 North-East families have applied for a Buttle UK grant.

One person to have benefitted is a mum-of-three from County Durham. Janine (not her real name) is on benefits, having given up her job to care full-time for her children, one of whom has cancer.

With frequent trips to the hospital costing the family dear, the fridge broke, meaning food was spoiling and the child’s medication could not be stored properly. Buttle UK provided a fridge worth £300 and a grant of another £300.

Nationally, the study shows Northern cities such as Sheffield, Leeds, Glasgow and Bradford are home to the highest numbers of vulnerable children and families but southern and coastal areas including Berkshire and Hampshire also have pockets of hidden poverty.