Third of people on the breadline

Almost a third of residents in Tyne and Wear are living in relative poverty, BBC researchers have revealed.

They found that 32% of people in the Radio Newcastle area are on the breadline. The study found there had been little improvement in 30 years.

The findings are part of the Changing UK report which examined how areas have changed over the past 40 years.

It also found Tyne and Wear's population had declined by 3% since 1981.

Wealth extremes

The worst area in the UK for population decline is Merseyside with a drop of 7%.

Areas where large numbers of people are living on the breadline include - South Shields, South Hylton, Jarrow and the East End of Newcastle.

But there are some extremes in terms of wealth.

Only 8% of the Radio Newcastle population are considered to be asset wealthy - having a home worth more than £300,000.

But in east Hexham, Northumberland, 63% are classed as being this affluent.

Hexham again tops the league for those who are exclusively wealthy, 28% of its population.

This means those with an income of more than £100,000 a year - a similar figure to affluent areas in the South including Pinner in North London and Kensington and Chelsea.

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