Parents on low incomes are facing immense pressure this summer with some even going hungry in order to feed their children, shocking new research has revealed.

Debt advice charity Christians Against Poverty’s latest Opinium polling found that as a result of financial challenges, more than one-in-10 parents with children under the age of 18 have skipped food in the past year so their children can eat.

CAP’s briefing paper on child poverty also showed 35 per cent of parents or carers with children under the age of five have debt they are struggling to repay and 20 per cent said that childcare costs prevent them increasing their income from paid employment.

Nicole was supported by CAP to become debt-free and get back into work.

However, before receiving assistance, the mother-of-two skipped meals as she could not afford food.

Her financial struggles started after her relationship broke down and her mum, who she lived with, passed away.

"My mum was diagnosed with cancer and things changed income-wise," Nicole said.

"We had been 50-50 before on paying for the house but when she died I had to pay 100 per cent," she added.

Nicole discussed her story with GB News

"I was dealing with everything, losing my mum and the debt became overwhelming.

“Being in debt takes over your life. A lot of anxiety comes with it and I was on medication at the time.

"I used to have physical panic attacks. The door would go and I wouldn’t want to open it – it was horrible."

Nicole also found the school summer holidays were particularly challenging, saying: “Six weeks is such a long time so it was really tough.

People visit food and warm bank in Hull

“I’d have to sacrifice things for myself, like walking around with trainers that had holes in them, to make sure the kids had enough.

"I used to have to skip meals sometimes so they could eat and I’d just have some of the leftovers.

“Food is the biggest extra cost and your kids always seem to grow in the summer, so clothing costs add up as well.

"I used charity shops and people at church gave us some clothes."

Christians Against Poverty, who supported Nicole, is calling for more support for parents on low incomes and for the two-child limit to be removed.

While the policy was initially introduced to discourage larger families on benefits, it has been criticised for increasing child poverty.

It comes as recent data from the Department for Work & Pensions shows over 1.6 million children are living in households affected by the policy.

CAP’s policy manager Juliette Flach said: “Many parents on low incomes are facing immense pressure this summer with high prices, the on-going costs of providing for their children and school holiday expenses.

Food in sealed container

“Having kids comes with additional costs and can also restrict parents' opportunities to work which makes them more at risk of falling into unmanageable debt.

“Families and single parents' financial situations and incomes can change significantly over time.

"Job loss, a relationship breakdown or health issues can all mean some parents who could once afford the basics for their children may no longer be able to.

“No child should ever go to bed hungry or grow up in a cold home and their parents shouldn’t be forced to live that way either.”

Nicole

“The two-child limit is trapping many low-income families in debt, which is having a detrimental impact on millions of children across the UK.

“The UK Government has spoken at length about their ambitions to tackle child poverty so we’re urging them to take bold action to ease the pressure on parents and their children so they can thrive.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, along with Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, is leading the Child Poverty Taskforce.

The Government is currently reviewing the two-child limit policy and is expected to announce its decision on the cap in autumn, when it publishes its child poverty strategy.

The taskforce was launched last year, at a time when the government was being urged by the SNP and some Labour MPs to scrap the cap.

For help and support with debt support advice, contact Christians Against Poverty here.