More households with children were threatened with homelessness last year, new figures show.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show 295 households with children were owed a prevention duty in Blackburn with Darwen in 2021-22 – up from 231 the year before.

This means the household has been threatened with homelessness and is eligible for local council support.

A further 14 households were owed a relief duty in the year to March, meaning they are already homeless and Blackburn with Darwen Council must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to secure accommodation for at least six months.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 37 domestic abuse cases led to prevention duties, while five relief duties were owed.

Executive member for public health, prevention and wellbeing, Councillor Damian Talbot, said: “As a Council, it is our duty to provide advice and assistance to all families who are threatened with homelessness and to those who are already homeless.

“It is not ideal for anyone to face homelessness, especially when children and young people are involved. It’s incredibly saddening for these figures to be a reality.

“Blackburn with Darwen Council will continue to take all occurrences of homelessness seriously, and go above and beyond the legislation to ensure that as much support as possible is provided and disruption to education for young people is kept to an absolute minimum.

“We urge anyone who might be struggling to please get in touch.”

The Government pledged in its 2019 manifesto to end homelessness by 2024.