Sittingbourne and Sheppey are among the worst areas in Kent for the number of people struggling to read and write.

Data from the National Literacy Trust shows the constituency is fifth worst, behind South Thanet, Chatham and Aylesford, Gravesham and Gillingham and Rainham.

Sheerness East and West are the two wards where the problem is biggest and are among the worst in the country for the likelihood its residents find reading and writing difficult.

Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, said: “It’s clear to me from the levels of literacy in the letters and emails which I receive that we definitely have a problem with people being able to read and write.

“It’s particularly worrying that a higher percentage of the people in the area, compared to others, have English as their first language – others have a higher level of immigrants.

“If English is your second language then its not surprising but we don’t have that excuse in our constituency.”

He cited struggles with secondary education on the Island as a potential reason for the problems, particularly in Sheerness, as well as the area’s history of manual labour jobs which did not require literacy.

He added: “In today’s world, even if someone is in a manual job they need some level of literacy.

“It’s one of the reasons we have such a high level of unemployment as you need to read and write to fill out the forms at the job centre.

“Literacy levels are a huge problem and I’m convinced if we can solve that problem then we can solve the problem of unemployment on Sheppey.”

Mr Henderson wants to work with social housing provider AmicusHorizon and the Sheerness Times Guardian to help address the issues: “We want to help people improve their reading and writing skills, encouraging those who struggle and help them not feel ashamed and come forward.

“I will do everything I can to get them help and there are people who can help – we don’t want to condemn them, it’s not their fault.”