Almost one in six children in Swindon live in poverty, a new report claims.

According to the research, 17 per cent of youngsters in south Swindon are from poor homes.

In neighbouring north Swindon 16 per cent of children are considered poverty stricken.

A poor household is classified as having income below 60 per cent of the national average.

South Swindon MP Julia Drown said the town was not free from deprivation despite an economic boom.

She said: "There are children in the country who are living in households where carers and parents find it very difficult to make ends meet, to make sure children are properly clothed and fed.

"Unfortunately, that is also the case in Swindon."

But the Labour MP said the Government had stepped in to help the situation, pumping in cash and services.

She said: "I'm pleased things are being done to improve equality, like the minimum wage and tax credits for working families.

"These are having a real effect on lifting children out of poverty and making sure they have real opportunities in life."

Lyn Thompson, project co-ordinator at the Welcome Centre, in Park North, agreed with the findings but said poverty was not just about a lack of money.

"Poverty is also about lack of opportunities," she said. "All sorts of things such as poor education, housing or transport compound the problem.

"How people live is not generally about life choices, but from circumstances that have lead them there. We offer opportunities to help adults such as basic maths, English and IT skills, confidence-building courses and job opportunities."

The Welcome Centre has been operating in Park North for 15 years and last year opened a centre in Park South. Staff are working with 40 families.

The level of child poverty in Swindon was not among the worst in the country. Glasgow was the hardest hit with close to one in three kids from poor households.

The claims were made in a detailed report on the wealth of the nation, by research group CACI.

It based the findings on a system called PayCheck, which estimates household income. The figures relate to 2004, the last financial year.

The report's authors said by providing a detailed income breakdown, policy makers can see wealth differences and draw up plans accordingly.

Swindon Council's lead member for Social Services, Ian Dobie said: "I'm very surprised the figures is as high as one in six.

"It is well known that there are areas of deprivation in Swindon, but the figures aren't necessarily reflected in the amount of support work that we have to do for Social Services.

"It's a great credit to programmes like HomeStart which work in those areas helping families to manage on tight budgets.

"It shows some people may be poor but they are trying to help themselves. The figures are as much to do with the big gap between the wealthy and the poor."

Alex Emery