A major British-based charity has launched its first campaign to help children in the UK.

Save the Children said Britain's poorest youngsters were bearing the greatest burden of the recession.

It is aiming to raise £500,000 to help its work in the UK, targeting the poorest children - the first time it has appealed to the UK public for funds to help children at home.

Chief executive Justin Forsyth said: "No child should see their parent going hungry or start the new term without a warm coat and with holes in their shoes.

"Poverty is tearing families apart, with parents buckling under the pressure of mounting bills and children seeing their parents argue more about money.

"That's why for the first time in our history we are launching a UK appeal. We need to help poor families survive the recession."

One in eight of the poorest children in the UK go without at least one hot meal a day, and one in 10 of the poorest parents have cut back on food for themselves to make sure their children have enough to eat.