The latest figure, unearthed by Strangford Assembly Member Simon Hamilton, paints an unattractive picture of the extent of the child poverty problem within the borough — an area widely considered as affluent.

The shocking numbers of children living below the breadline was in response to a question posed by the Ards councillor to the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.

It means Ards council area holds one of the dubious top 10 spots (7th) out of the 26 councils, although Belfast tops the poll with 13,400 children said to be living in poverty.

Slamming how Ards now rates as the seventh highest home to child poverty out of the total district councils, Ards councillor, Simon Hamilton said: “In an area that is perceived as being as affluent as ours, it is staggering to learn that as many as 4,700 children are estimated to be living in poverty in this day and age.

“It is all too easy to view an area like Ards as one of almost universal wealth yet that would be to ignore the many pockets of real poverty that exist in towns like Newtownards.”

The figures also revealed how 4,000 children are living in poverty within North Down.

The Ards councillor said he was surprised at how the figures suggest the child poverty problem in the area appears to be widespread. He said the next stage in tackling the child poverty issue is getting the government to recognise the problem.

“Indeed, getting government programmes to recognise these pockets isn't always simple or straightforward despite the poverty the people living there experience because the comparative affluence surrounding these neighbourhoods totally distort the overall figures,” he said.

“Yet, even though those of us who live here know that there are problems of poverty in various places in the Ards, it is still immensely surprising that Ards has the seventh highest levels of child poverty of all of Northern Ireland's 26 local government districts and that some 20 percent plus of our children (throughout Northern Ireland) are living in poverty.

“Every one of these statistics make the targets set in the draft Programme for Government to eradicate severe child poverty by 2012 and the elimination of poverty by 2020 including lifting 67,000 children out of poverty by 2010, all the more important. We all want to see Northern Ireland prosper economically but it is essential that, as we seek to generate hi-tech, better paying jobs, raise incomes and attract increased investment, no one — and especially no child — is left behind. A rising tide must lift all boats,” he said.

The latest statistics produced by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister showed 109,000 children are living in child poverty throughout Northern Ireland.

Margaret Kelly, assistant director of Policy for Barnardos Northern Ireland, said: “The figures for Northern Ireland are unacceptably high and what's clear about Northern Ireland is within areas like Ards — that can be considered affluent — there are pockets of deprivation. There are very localised levels of it as well which is worrying. These can be left neglected and unnoticed. Child poverty affects the health and education of a child and their long-term employment possibilities.”