ALMOST every single child in large parts of Glasgow's East End is living in, or on the brink of, poverty, according to a damning report published today.

ALMOST every single child in large parts of Glasgow's East End is living in, or on the brink of, poverty, according to a damning report published today.

A shocking total of 98% of youngsters in parts of Easterhouse and Barlanark are living in poor families, statistics from Barnardo's show.

The figures, which are based on families receiving work-related benefits rather than a regular income, showed more than 107,000 children in Glasgow live in poverty.

More than half the families on work-related benefits are officially in poverty, while all are "struggling".

Those not yet in poverty are "on the brink", according to the report, which was carried out on behalf of the Campaign to End Child Poverty.

Campaigners believe the UK-wide report gives the most realistic picture yet of the hardship faced by children.

It shows 174 Westminster constituencies - including all seven in Scotland's largest city - had 50% or more children living in, or almost in, poverty.

The Glasgow figure is 63%, rising to 98% in parts of Barlanark and Easterhouse.

Poverty campaign chairman Martin Narey said: "Pockets of our country are in turmoil.

"These figures show us that there are millions more children than originally thought being failed by the system."

A Scottish campaign spokesman said: "We need to see action at a national and a local level to help families out of poverty.

"We need to look at the levels of wages across the country and put far more targeted money into the tax credit system so that working people can afford to look after their families.

"We also need to look at improving the provision of affordable childcare to let parents work.

"And all families living in poverty would benefit from wider access to free school meals and clothing grants."

The campaign has called for energy companies to offer "social tariffs" to families on the breadline, with meters that charge more fairly.

John Mason, the SNP MP whose constituency includes the area with the worst rates, said: "Several things need to change to end child poverty, not least minimum wage levels.

"No one who is working should need to claim benefits at the same time."

And he said the education system must make sure able pupils make it through higher eduction and into good jobs.

Labour MSP Frank McAveety added: "There needs to be more money invested. It's not rocket science.

"You need three things - quality education, better childcare and getting people ready for work."

John Dickie, head of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said: "This highlights the urgency with which governments need to act to keep their promise to end child poverty."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to halve child poverty by 2010 but campaigners believe his policies are not going far enough.

The Scottish Parliament is expected to announce its own anti-poverty framework this autumn and Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon will speak on the issue at a key Glasgow conference in November.