THOUSANDS of children in Barnsley are suffering from tooth decay as they prepare to go to high school, shocking new figures have revealed.

The borough’s three constituencies Barnsley North, Barnsley South and Penistone and Stocksbridge all have higher-than-average figures relating to year six kids’ oral hygiene.

Almost one in five kids in Barnsley North and Barnsley South or 18.23 per cent have tooth decay, while the figure stands at 15.6 per cent of youngsters aged ten and 11 in Penistone and Stocksbridge.

The national average is 10.6 per cent, according to analysis undertaken by The Food Foundation, who also said one in four year sixes in Barnsley are obese.

The charity called on policy makers to target action where it is needed most, after Sir Keir Starmer pledged ‘to create the healthiest and happiest generation of children ever’ ahead of last year’s election.

Dr Hannah Brinsden, head of policy and advocacy at The Food Foundation said: “The new health and diet inequalities research highlights stark inequalities across the country, as well as the detrimental impact that our food system is having on our health.

“The government’s food strategy is a huge opportunity to reduce these regional inequalities and improve the healthiness of our nation.

“By focusing on national action to improve our food environments, alongside harnessing the power of local leadership, bringing together local businesses, community enterprises and producers, we can ensure that everyone has access to more nutritious, affordable food, no matter where they live.

“Food is an essential building block of good health that we should all have access to, no matter who we are or where we live.

“If the government is serious about tackling health inequalities, they need to take urgent action on food insecurity, so we can make health equal across the nation.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson added: “Through our Plan For Change, we will create the healthiest generation of children ever, limiting kids’ access to fast food and cracking down on junk food advertising.

“We are launching a world-first partnership with food retailers and manufacturers to help families make healthier choices and reforming the soft drinks industry levy to ensure it continues to work effectively to reduce sugar consumption.

“We are also rolling out supervised tooth brushing for three-to-five-year-olds in the most deprived communities and have already begun the rollout of 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments.”

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said tooth decay has an enormous impact on children’s welfare while being ‘entirely preventable’, and urged the government to implement preventive programmes such as supervised toothbrushing in schools.

“Every day we delay, more children suffer unnecessary pain, miss school, and require hospital treatment.

“The government has been given the solutions now it must deliver them.”