Data has revealed that the number of children living in low income families in the area has increased over the past year.

The figures, from the Department of Work and Pensions, break down the number of children aged 16 and under, living in relative and absolute low income families per region, local authority, and Westminster parliamentary constituency.

Numbers are compared with the financial year end, going back to 2015.

For the Ballochmyle, Cumnock and New Cumnock and Doon Valley wards, the number of children living in absolute low income families has increased across the three wards.

Ballochmyle now has 532 children living in these conditions at the financial year end (FYE) 2022, compared with 418 12 months previously.

Cumnock and New Cumnock has increased from 400 in 2021, to 515 in 2022.

Doon Valley has also jumped from 379 in 2021 to 513 in 2022.

Across the whole of East Ayrshire, the picture does not get any more positive, with 4,180 children classed as living in absolute low income families as of the end of the 2021-22 financial year, compared with 3,393 12 months earlier.