MORE than 100,000 children in the South West are living in severe poverty, going without basic essentials including warm clothes and food.

New research from Save the Children has found that severe child poverty throughout the UK dramatically increased even before the recession, between 2004/05 and 2007/08– pushing the total to 1.7 million.

In the South West there are 107,000 children – 10 per cent – living in severe poverty. An additional 16 per cent of children in the region are living in poverty.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “Child poverty is an issue we take very seriously and one that is being addressed by the Dorset Children’s Trust Board. The board is a partnership made up of different organisations including local councils, police, health services, schools, Connexions, the learning and skills council and the voluntary sector.”

The statement added: “A multi-agency working group focusing solely on child poverty will be tackling this issue and narrowing the gap – so the experience of the majority is the experience of all.”

Jane Portman, Bournemouth council’s executive director for children and families services, said the council was working with its partners to support local families.

She said: “This includes providing advice on health and wellbeing, offering education and learning opportunities, assisting with childcare and giving employment advice and help.

“Our welfare team also helps families to access the financial help they are entitled to.”

The government’s definition of poverty is different from that of Save the Children.

Latest figures published by HM Revenue and Customs show that 20.8 per cent of all children living in Bournemouth in 2007 were living in poverty.

This figure was 17.1 per cent in Poole, 15.3 per cent in Christchurch, 10.2 per cent in East Dorset, 12.1 in North Dorset, 12.6 in Purbeck, 13.1 in West Dorset, and 13 per cent in New Forest.