NEW figures reveal that 13 children across East Lancashire were homeless and living in temporary accommodation in March.

Government statistics showed seven of these were in Blackburn with Darwen representing one in 5,586 of the borough’s 40,504 under-18s without a permanent place of residence.

This is the 25th highest ratio in the North West well below Manchester’s one in 47. It is rated 281st out of 343 England councils.

Hyndburn and Burnley both had two children categorised as living in temporary accommodation, Ribble Valley and Rossendale one each and Pendle none.

In Hyndburn it represented one in 9,822 children (30th regionally); Burnley one in 10,719 (31st); Ribble Valley one in 12,562 (33rd) and Rossendale one in 16,288 (34th).

Housing charity Shelter today published the figures showing that on March 31 there were 4,150 children in the North West homeless and in temporary accommodation: a 385 per cent rise in five years.

Its Generation Homeless report reveals 18 children lose their home every day in the region. The document also revealed that 290 families with children in the region were living in emergency bed and breakfast and hostel accommodation – widely considered the most unsuitable – up 339 per cent since 2014.

Stephen Richards, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s housing support manager, said: “We work very hard to help families in this position and try to prioritise prevention work, working with families before they become homeless.

“We always try to get alternative accommodation for the families at an earlier stage and where this is not available we have what we refer to as dispersed properties and therefore do not rely upon B and Bs or hostels.

“Dispersed properties are houses and flats that we lease from Together Housing, they are fully-furnished and are all self-contained to minimise any impact. While the number of families in this type of accommodation is low in the borough, one homeless family is one too many, and we are doing what we can to ensure there is enough temporary housing while longer-term solutions are found.”

A Burnley Council spokesman said: “We always give priority to finding accommodation for parents with children and that would be in self-contained housing rather than a B&B or hostel.”

Shelter Manchester hub manager, John Ryan, said: “The fact 18 children in the North West become homeless every day is a scandalous figure, and sharp reminder that political promises about tackling homelessness must be turned into real action.”

He urged people to donate to Shelter’s Christmas appeal please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70030 to donate £3. Texts cost your standard network rate + £3. Shelter receives 100% of your donation.