WORRYING new figures show that tens of thousands of children in the North-East have started secondary school overweight in the last five years.

The calculations, released by Cancer Research UK today, reveal that since 2010, around 47,000 children were obese or overweight by the time they reached secondary school age – 11-years-old.

Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK after smoking and contributes to around 18,100 cancer cases every year.

Nicki Embleton, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North-East, said the figures were “concerning” and called on the government to introduce tougher measures to combat the problem.

She said: “Measures like the sugary drinks tax can make a difference and the government must press ahead with this vital measure.

“But there is no silver bullet and more action is needed.

“The government has already recognised the influence of junk food marketing on children’s health by banning junk food advertising during children’s programmes - it’s time to close the loop hole during family viewing time.”

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, Darlington Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said the trend was “incredibly worrying” adding that children were “paying the price” of readily available, cheap, high calorie foods that have transformed eating habits.

She said that a global approach was needed to deal with these issues.

Cllr Hughes added: “We can’t address them in our region on our own.

“The EU has been funding much-needed research to tackle the growing problems associated with childhood obesity through the scientific Horizon 2020 Programme.

“The recent Brexit vote will no doubt scupper our involvement in this important research.”

She added: “We must also do all we can to promote school and community sports and activities. Sadly, without a national or even global reining-in of the fast food industry, I fear that this epidemic will only get worse.”