Paediatrician Dr Julie-Ann Maney, who works at The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, has given a graphic account on how poverty has left some children so hungry they behave drastically

Babies from poverty-stricken families are so hungry that when they are given toast they stuff it in their nappies to eat later, a medic has claimed.

Dr Julie-Ann Maney has spoken out about the heartbreaking scenes she has witnessed at The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children where she treats poorly youngsters from deprived households.

According to the paediatrician some babies squirrel way food they are given by staff in fear they won’t be given more food while some youngsters eat as much they can while it is available.

Dr Maney told BBC News she was compelled to reveal the drastic behaviour by hungry children as it was witnessed by staff at the hospital’s emergency department every day.

She said: “We have seen little 14-month-old infants here who are so hungry when you offer them toast and milk, they stuff toast into their nappies because they know they’re never going to see another bite.