SHOCKING new figures have revealed that more than one in three children in Ammanford, Garnant and Gwaun cae Gurwen lives in poverty.

According to the latest statistics released by End Child Poverty, once housing costs are taken into consideration, more than one third of all children in some council wards in the Amman Valley live below the breadline.

Things are little better in the Gwendraeth and Swansea valleys.

“The findings of this study confirm what those of us who are opposed to austerity have consistently said since the recession hit in 2008 – austerity doesn’t work,” said Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards.

“Carmarthenshire still sees 27 per cent of our children living in poverty with some Amman Valley communities having seen an increase to 34 and 35 per cent. It is little wonder that food banks have become a feature of our community.”

Meanwhile, welfare reforms imposed by the government will leave every adult of working age in Ammanford £790 worse of each year, statistics show.

The figures, published in the study The Impact of Welfare Reform in the Valleys, show adults in Ammanford are £240 worse off than the Welsh average and will have £320 less in their pocket than the rest of the UK.

Working age adults in Garnant and Lower Brynaman will be £690 worse off while those in Glanaman will lose £700. Adults in Ystalyfera will suffer to the tune of £800.

See this week's paper for a breakdown of the reports.