MORE than 60 children in Bury were homeless and living in temporary accommodation in March, new figures reveal.

This is the equivalent of one for every mainstream state-school in the borough.

Government statistics showed that one in 686 of Bury’s 45,253 young people aged under 18 did not have a permanent place of residence.

This is the ninth highest ratio in the North-West well below Manchester (one in 47) and Salford (one in 378).

Housing charity Shelter this week published the figures showed that on March 31 there were 4,150 children in the North-West homeless and living in temporary accommodation: a 385 per cent in five years.

Its Generation Homeless report reveals 18 children lose their home every day in the North West.

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 - an increase of 339 per cent.

The charity said this meant families we’re often squashed into one room with little space to cook, play or eat their meals; we’re forced to share bathrooms with strangers; and the accommodation was often located miles away from schools, jobs and loved ones.

The figure for Bury Borough was 66 children homeless and living temporary accommodation.

Third in the table was Tameside (one in 384) , fourth Liverpool (one in 467), fifth Rochdale (one in 547) sixth Bolton (one in 556), seventh Trafford (one in 576) and eighth Oldham (one in 643).

Shelter is warning that if nothing is done 162 children across the North West will be made homeless between now and the time of the general election on December 12 and 396 children across the region by Christmas day.

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.

“We are calling on every political party to put housing at the top of its domestic agenda

“Day in, day out ,we see the devastating impact the housing emergency is having on children across the region.

“Many are being uprooted from their friends, while others are forced to live in cramped B&Bs and go to bed at night scared by the sound of strangers outside.

“Every child has the right to a safe home and if we act now, our frontline advisers can support more homeless families in the North West to get to a better place.

“ Every donation will help Shelter to be there for everyone who need us this Christmas.”

Shelter is asking people to donate to its Christmas appeal by visiting www.shelter.org.uk or texting SHELTER to 70030 to donate £3. Texts cost your standard network rate plus £3. Shelter receives 100 per cent of donations.

There was no-one from Bury Council available for comment.