More than one in four children in Powys is living in poverty, and the figure is increasing, according to new figures.

The stark statistic, researched by Loughborough University and released by the End Child Poverty coalition this week, shows 29.7% of children across Montgomeryshire and 28.6% in Brecon and Radnorshire live below the poverty line - an estimated 7,300 Powys children.

The hardest hit areas are the Newtown South and Newtown Central wards, both of which have 42% of children in poverty. Llandrindod Wells follows closely behind along with areas of Welshpool.

Headteacher of Treowen School, in the Newtown East ward(26%), Lisa Swanson said the school receives funding from Welsh Government to known as the Pupil Deprivation Grant, which the school uses to help address the additional barriers poorer pupils face.

"We get funding for Free School Meals pupils, and that level is currently at 24%. The pupil deprivation grant aims to equalise levels for all children and we're using some of that money for positive playtime programmes and an outdoor learning initiative, as there's evidence to suggest that helps reduce the ‘poverty gap’ and also develops confidence and self-esteem in pupils. We have also invested our money into Thrive which has significantly impacted a large group of our children.

"I don't know if poverty is getting worse, but I would say children are coming to school later due to their being no ‘nursery’ classes which means we have more catching up to do when they start. We as a school believe in early intervention so it just means we have to put the work in and support our families as much as possible when they are here."

The national numbers represent a significant increase on last year's figure of 21.4%, amidst a 1% rise in child poverty nationally. In the worst areas in the electoral ward of Penrhiwceibar in Rhondda Cynon Taf, the figure rises to an astonishing 49%.

Campaigners are calling for investment into children’s services such as mental health, education, childcare and social care, and for welfare benefit reform to the unpopular universal credit scheme.

Powys anti-poverty champion Cllr Joy Jones called on the Welsh Government to take an "active role" in tackling the problem.

"It is no surprise to see these two wards on here as they have the highest level social housing in the town. This is very sad and why I and other councillors fought for our areas when the council wanted to increase the council tax to 9.5%. I know that many hard working families living on these estates are struggling to pay their bills, before any increases were added," she said.

"Central Government need to look at the universal credit system which has led to people falling into debt. There are many who have found themselves removed from their disability benefit and told they are fit to work when clearly they’re not and have had to fight to get the benefits they are entitled reinstated but this takes month and in the meantime causing they to fall into hardship.

"The whole welfare system needs to be revisited so that people in need aren’t left to fall into poverty."