AN INDEX drawn up by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) shows where in the North-East people are at highest risk of poverty.

The index scores constituencies from nought to ten – where nought is the lowest risk and ten the highest – and is calculated using a combination of out of work benefits and in work tax credit recipients of working age.

JRF said Middlesbrough has the highest risk of poverty (7.1). It was followed by Easington (5.9), Hartlepool (5.9), Stockton North (5.8), South Shields (5.7) and Redcar (5.5).

Other constituency areas lower down the scale were Bishop Auckland (4.7), Darlington (4.5), Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland (4.4), North West Durham (4.3), North Durham (4.2) and Sedgefield (4.2).

Towards the bottom were Stockton South (2.8), City of Durham (2.4) and Hexham – the lowest – (1.5).

Separately, a poll for the foundation found that 32 per cent of people in the North-East felt it “likely” their family could fall into poverty in the future.

JRF is launching a national strategy to solve poverty in the UK with the aim being that by 2030 less than one in ten of the population is in poverty at any one time.

Helen Barnard, head of analysis at JRF, said: “This analysis shows how poverty affects people right across the North-East and that we need to get to grips with poverty in every town and city so no one is left behind.

“The region needs a comprehensive plan to create more and better jobs, and ensure people have the opportunity to enjoy a secure and decent standard of living.

“This means the Government, mayors and town hall leaders, businesses and communities working together to create a comprehensive plan so the North-East can thrive. We need a new long-term deal to solve poverty for people living across the region.”