The Dispossessed: Eight out of 10 children live in poverty in three areas of city

The highest levels of all are found in Tottenham with 80.3 per cent of children living in low-income homes, according to research by Barnardo's.

The study defined children in poverty as those raised in families receiving the maximum Child Tax Credit.

Poplar and Limehouse, and Bethnal Green and Bow came second and third on the Barnardo's list, which ranked each parliamentary constituency by levels of child poverty. Both had almost eight out of every 10 children living in poverty.

Across the capital as a whole there were 36 constituencies where more than half of all children live in households entitled to the maximum credit.

Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo's, said: "Child poverty affects us all, whether we realise it or not. It is generally the root cause of crime, ill physical and mental health, unemployment, community and family breakdown in the capital. Its affects aren't just social, but also economic.

"The repercussions of allowing it to continue in London are a further generation of workless, poverty stricken adults bringing up their own children in poverty."

In Tottenham parents spoke of the constant struggle to make ends meet. Sylvia Tudikova, 31, who lives with her one-month-old daughter Sophie in Tottenham Hale, said paying her £700-a-month rent looked impossible with her maternity pay about to drop to £400 a month.

"I expect it to be very tough. A pack of nappies costs around £10 and formula milk is £1 a day," she said.

Ms Tudikova has recently applied for full housing benefit, saying: "I hope the council will help me. I've avoided taking out a loan at the moment but it's going to be a hard couple of years ahead."

Annette Joseph, 40, lives with her three children, Jahim, nine, Ian, seven, and 22-month-old Shenaye in Tottenham. The family survives on £700 a month after housing costs - about £6 per person per day. "There's nothing in the cupboard at the moment and I have to wait another two weeks until I've got money," said Mrs Joseph.

Maria Nalunkuma, 38, lives with her two-year-old daughter Samantha in Tottenham Hale and earns £1,100 a month from her four-days-a-week work as a support worker for a community project.

After housing costs she and her daughter have £8 each day to live on. She said: "We can't go on holidays. I buy Samantha new things instead of myself."

Beneath the surface affluence of even the wealthiest constituencies, including Twickenham, Wimbledon and Richmond, one in five children are living in poverty.

Neera Sharma, assistant director of policy at Barnardo's, said: "London is one of the worst regions for child poverty rates in the country."