More than 6,500 children in Norwich live below the poverty line, according to a new report.Norfolk County Council warns that 30pc of youngsters aged under 16 within the city's boundaries are “income deprived”, with the most deprived areas shown to be Bowthorpe, Mile Cross and Wensum.

More than 6,500 children in Norwich live below the poverty line, according to a new report.

Norfolk County Council warns that 30pc of youngsters aged under 16 within the city's boundaries are “income deprived”, with the most deprived areas shown to be Bowthorpe, Mile Cross and Wensum. Deprivation was most widespread in Mancroft.

A meeting of its Norwich area committee next Thursday is set to look at work being done to improve the lot of youngsters in the city.

Tackling poverty and poor school performance are corner-stones of the city council's “home rule” bid and the timing of the meeting is sure to raise eyebrows at City Hall.

Sue Whitaker, Labour group leader at County Hall and a Lakenham councillor who is against the city's unitary bid, said: “Norwich is a beautiful city that offers a high quality of life to many of its residents. As a result, it is all too easy to forget that there are significant pockets of deprivation within the city's boundaries where families live in unacceptable poverty.”

The meeting will also receive a report from Jobcentre Plus explaining its role in helping to reduce child poverty, while Tansy Miller from the Norwich Citizens' Advice Bureau will also give a presentation on its role in helping to alleviate child poverty.

The meeting starts at 6.30pm at Pilling Park Community Centre, Morse Road, Thorpe.