New figures show that more than 20,000 children in the borough are living in poverty.

Statistics released in this year’s public health figures showed 29 per cent of children in the borough lived in poverty, ten per cent higher than the national average.

In addition, Enfield was ranked the lowest in the country for the proportion of children under two receiving their MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination, which fell to 78.3 per cent

Figures also showed more than 1,300 children under the age of 11 are classed as obese.

A total of 26 per cent of adults were also classed at obese, higher than the national average.

Last year’s statistics showed an eight-year gap in men's life expectancy between the least deprived area, Cockfosters, and the most deprived, Edmonton Green.

The difference has fallen slightly to 7.7 for men and from 4.6 years to 4.3 years for women.

Lorna Reith, chief executive of the health watchdog Healthwatch Enfield, said she is concerned by the lack of action on targeting childhood obesity.

She said: “Healthwatch Enfield welcomes news that health inequalities are falling in the borough, alongside infant mortality.

“We remain concerned that not enough is being done to combat child obesity in the borough and urge health planners to prioritise MMR vaccinations since Enfield now has the worst record in the country.”

The findings also showed that children and young people under the age of 20 make up 27.7 per cent of the population of Enfield.