More than £4.5 million is owed by mums or dads who don't live with their children but who do live in the area.

The figures, revealed by single parent charity Gingerbread, show that there is a total child maintenance "debt mountain" of £3,761 million across the UK.

Mr Hart said: "This is a huge figure that must impact on the lives of hundreds of children across Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

"Research by Gingerbread shows that this is much-needed money which pays for items such as children's clothes, school meals, trips and activities and childcare."

 Download a PDF of the latest arrears figures

Gingerbread's Chief Executive Fiona Weir said: "Child maintenance is vital for children in separated families "Ultimately the responsibility for paying child maintenance rests with the non-resident parent, but the Child Support Agency has to do its job too in collecting debts and enforcing payment.

"We want to help single parents caring for children take action to ensure their arrears are paid."

*Phone Gingerbread's free Single Parent Helpline on 0808 802 0925 for a 'Top Tips' leaflet on how to pursue child maintenance arrears.