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The number of battered babies admitted to hospital has more than doubled in five years – with the blame laid on Tory austerity.

NHS Digital figures show 282 children under three were treated in England last year after suffering physical abuse in 2018/9.

That is a 53 per cent hike on the 185 admissions in 2013/14.

Experts said Tory policies, with “draconian” benefit cuts, were plunging more families into poverty just as support services were being axed.

Research has shown that economic hardship can increase the risk of a child coming to harm through neglect and abuse.

Prof Ray Jones, a former director of social services, said: “There is much more stress for families who are poor, as the draconian benefit cuts created by Cameron and Osborne have been continued by May and Johnson.

(Image: Getty)

“Parents are frequently having to move between awful, insecure accommodation which undermines support.”

East of England had the highest number of hospital admissions in 2018/19 (55), followed by the North West (45) then Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands (both 35).

The statistics show the number of kids subject to child protection plans is up 38 per cent since 2010, from 39,100 to 53,790.

And the number of referrals to children’s services has risen, from 603,700 in 2010 to 655,630 last year.

Rachel Dickinson, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, called for more investment in early intervention services.

She said: “One case of abuse is one too many.”