The scale of the hunger crisis facing Londoners is revealed in a joint investigation by the Evening Standard and the Independent.

As winter approaches, headteachers and youth workers tell how the cost of living crisis is leading many families in London and other parts of the country to increasingly desperate measures.

There reports of the teenager who didn’t want to worry his heavily indebted mum asking for lunch money, hungry pupils stealing from the canteen and one headteacher telling how a mother broke down in tears saying she was arrested after being caught shoplifting spaghetti, tomato sauce and a small loaf of bread at the supermarket to feed her family.

Child Poverty Action Group data shows there are up to 800,000 children in England living in homes receiving Universal Credit who breach the £617-a-month government threshold for free school.

So, with the energy bills crisis biting now the nights are drawing in, how are London’s families coping?

Adding to the distress, there are now fears a decent Christmas will be beyond the reach of many Londoners hit by the cost-of-living crisis.

The Leader’s joined by Sara Ogilvie, CPAG policy director.

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