Region’s mayor to launch measures to cut unemployment, reduce cost of travel and help children in hardship

A £55m package of measures to tackle the “staggering” levels of child poverty in north-east England is to be unveiled at a summit on Monday.

The announcement includes an extension of a scheme that allows young people under 21 to travel on public transport for £1 and a £50m investment programme aimed at helping people to find and stay in work.