CHILDREN in the North-East are more likely to suffer from obesity, accidental injury and poor educational development than those in other regions, a study reveals.

Comparing England's 30 most deprived local authorities with the 30 best-off, the National Children’s Bureau found children under five in poor areas are significantly worse off when it comes to health and education.

Although the North-East has average levels of tooth decay in five-year-olds – 25 per cent – the region has the worst outcomes for hospital admissions due to injury while fewer - 55 per cent - children reach a good level of educational development.

It also has high levels of child obesity – 10.4 per cent – with one in ten (3,000 children) starting school classed as obese.

According to the report, if the region’s under-fives enjoyed the same health and development as the South-East, almost 2,500 more reception class children would reach a good level of development.

In the region, Middlesbrough and Stockton rank in the ten worst areas for children achieving a good level of development at the end of reception.

Locally, it also found a five-year-old in Middlesbrough is more than twice as likely to have tooth decay as one in Hartlepool, and almost 25 per cent more likely to have been taken to hospital due to injury.

While only 18.4 per cent of children in the richest areas suffer tooth decay, this rises to 31.6 per cent of four to five-year-olds in the 30 most deprived areas.

However, the data also found poor early health is not inevitable for children in deprived areas, as children in Hartlepool and South Tyneside have lower levels of tooth decay, despite high levels of deprivation.

The report, published as public health responsibility for under-fives is transferred to local authorities, calls on the government to improve the health and development of children and families in the early years.

Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau said: “It is shocking that two children growing up in neighbouring areas can expect such a wildly different quality of health.

“As these variations are closely linked to poverty, with those in areas with the highest levels of deprivation more likely to suffer from a range of health issues, we have to ask whether England is becoming a nation of two halves?

“Government must make it a national mission over the next five years to ensure that the heath and development of the first five years of a child’s life is improved.”

A spokesperson for Public Health England in the North-East added: “One of Public Health England’s priorities is to ensure every child has the best start in life, so they are ready to learn at two and ready for school at five.

“We are focussing on high immunisation rates, health visitor interventions at five vital stages in early years and maternal mental health and early attachment, as they are strong foundations for health and wellbeing in children."