Poor families skipping meals and unable to afford heating, charity says

Action for Children says levels of severe and persistent hardship in cost of living crisis are among worst it has seen

Hard-up families are skipping meals, wearing coats indoors to stay warm, and living in the dark because they can't afford to switch on the lights, according to a leading children's charity.

Action for Children said in one case a boy it worked with had been off school with sore feet caused by chilblains. The boy told charity workers that the house was cold all the time because the heating was not on, and he and his siblings were wearing coats inside and sharing beds at night to keep warm.