Nearly three million children in poverty despite parents working

A record 2.9 million children from working families in the UK are living in poverty after housing costs have been paid, the latest figures show.

This means 70% of all poor children were in working families last year, up from 67% on the previous year, official statistics show.

The face of child poverty is also getting younger with 53% of poor children aged under five, data shows.

The government said that tackling poverty was its priority.

Analysis of the statistics, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, shows the high cost of housing in the UK is pushing more working families over the poverty line.

According to calculations by the National Housing Federation (NHF) , nearly a third more children - or 193,000 - are now living in such meagre circumstances because of spiralling rents and mortgage costs, compared with 2010.

The federation, which represents housing associations, points to a lack of social housing being built over the same period, as well as a lack of affordability of home ownership.

It is calling for the government to urgently invest more money in social housing.

NHF chief executive Kate Henderson said: "Year after year hundreds of thousands more hard-working families are falling into poverty - forced to choose between feeding and clothing their children, or providing a roof over their heads.

"We are now seeing the full effects of low pay, benefit cuts and the housing crisis. The lack of affordable homes is exacerbating in-work poverty."

Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said: "Despite high employment, today's figures reveal that 70% of children living under the poverty line have at least one parent in work.

"That is not an economy that is working for everyone.

"The increase in child poverty in working families was widely anticipated and could have been avoided."

A government spokesperson said it took the numbers extremely seriously, adding: "Employment is at a record high, wages are outstripping inflation and income inequality and absolute poverty are lower than in 2010.

"But we know some families need more support, which is why we continue to spend £95bn a year on working-age benefits.

"We are looking at what more can be done to help the most vulnerable and improve their life chances."