More UK children living in poverty

In total, 3.9 million UK children were living in poverty in the year 2006/07, an increase of 100,000 on the previous year.

For pensioners, the figure rose to 2.1 million, up 200,000, the figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show.

The DWP calculated poverty before and after household costs. These figures related to the situation after household bills have been paid.

Targets, set by Tony Blair, have not been met for another year. The former prime minister announced in 1999 the target of halving child poverty by 2010 and eliminating it by 2020.

The Government defended the figures saying that, since Mr Blair's pledge was made, thousands of pensioners and children had been lifted out of poverty.

Employment and Welfare Reform Minister Stephen Timms acknowledged the figures represent a slip.

He said: "We are committed to tackling poverty and providing opportunity for all and these figures confer with the very substantial progress over the last decade (with) large numbers of pensioners and children lifted out of poverty in relative and absolute terms.

"But we have heard that over the last year or two we have on some levels slipped back.

"It's encouraging that there has been continuing progress in reducing material deprivation and persistent poverty amongst both children and pensioners - reducing relative poverty though is difficult, particularly at times of strong economic growth."