New evidence from Save the Children has revealed that the number of children living in severe poverty in the UK has dramatically increased, even before the current economic downturn.

Save the Children’s latest briefing, Measuring Severe Child Poverty in the UK, shows how an additional 260,000 children were pushed into severe poverty during the four years of UK economic boom between 2004 and 2008. The research indicates that this number is likely to have stayed the same over the last two years, as the recession has wiped out any progress that government action may have achieved.

This means that 13% of the UK’s children now live in severe poverty.

A single mother, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained what it means to be poor in Britain today. "The salary I'm getting is not enough for my children," she said. "The housing benefit is not enough to pay my rent and I have to pay council tax on top of that, which is another £89. Since my child was born I haven't been able to buy new clothes for my daughter and she is wearing old clothes my son wore."

The recession is likely to have increased severe poverty by a further 100,000 children, but rises in tax credits and benefits are expected to have brought the numbers back down to pre-recession figures. But as unemployment continues to climb, there is a real danger that the number of children living in severe poverty could rise even higher.

England accounts for the biggest increase in severe poverty, with more than 1.5 million children now living in families that earn 50% less than the average UK income and miss out on daily essentials such as enough food and clothes. London is home to around one fifth of all children in severe poverty in the UK – over 300,000 children – the biggest proportion of any UK city.

Save the Children now wants the government to focus its efforts on helping families living in severe poverty, including covering 100% of childcare costs for parents on working tax credit, improving support for parents wanting to take part-time wor, and providing more training opportunities, especially for lone parents.

In the run up to the general election, Save the Children also wants to see any investment announcements focus on those who need it most, rather than tax-breaks or benefit cuts that will have no direct impact on tackling severe poverty.