More than 100 children have been left homeless and living in temporary accommodation in Wycombe, figures reveal.

The housing charity Shelter estimates a child was made homeless every eight minutes across Britain last year, with many staying in cold and cramped spaces and uprooted from friends.

Analysis of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data by the charity shows that 123 children were homeless and living in temporary accommodation in Wycombe at the end of March.

Across the South East, the figure stood at 11,700 – the charity’s analysis suggests that around 7,400 young people across the region became homeless during 2018-19, equivalent to 20 every day.

Across Britain, 183 children per day became homeless – enough to fill more than two double-decker buses, and almost 67,000 over the year.

If the rate remains the same this month, around 4,600 more children would lose their home between the start of December and Christmas Day.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said the “scandalous” figure is a reminder that political promises about tackling homelessness must be turned into real action.

“Day in, day out we see the devastating impact the housing emergency is having on children across the country,” she added.

“They are being uprooted from friends, living in cold, cramped B&Bs and going to bed at night scared by the sound of strangers outside.”

Shelter estimates that at least 135,000 children across Britain will be homeless and in temporary accommodation by Christmas Day – the highest number in 12 years.

It is calling on political parties to put housing policy at the top of their agendas.

Ms Neate added: “Every child has the right to a safe home and if we act now, we can help get them to a better place.”

Across England, the areas where children were most likely to be homeless were all in London – in Haringey, Westminster and Newham, one in every 12 children were homeless.

A government spokeswoman said: “Every child should have somewhere safe to live, and councils have a duty to provide temporary accommodation to those who need it, including families with children.

“We’re supporting them to reduce the numbers in temporary accommodation by giving £1.2 billion to tackle all types of homelessness.”