NEW statistics released today reveal that 22,189 children in Liverpool live in unsuitable or cramped housing. Figures also show a further 71 children in the city are homeless.

In a report for homeless charity Shelter, child poverty experts warn that the Government is failing 150,000 children in the North West who are forced to grow up in squalid conditions.

The report, Chance of a Lifetime, was commissioned by the charity from Lisa Harker - an independent adviser on child poverty for the Department for Work and Pensions.

It also reveals that children who live in bad or overcrowded housing are up to 10 times more likely to contract meningitis and are up to 25% more likely to develop severe ill-health and disability during childhood and early adulthood.

Ms Harker said: "Childhood is a precious time when our experiences shape the adults we become - but children who grow up in bad housing are robbed of their future chances by ill health, educational under-achievement and devastating insecurity."

John Ryan, Shelter's area manager for Merseyside, said: "The fact that Liverpool had been earmarked as a housing market renewal area shows that we have higher incidents of poor housing than in other areas.

"This report is so important because it highlights the social disadvantage that children face from living in poor accommodation that can lead to poor health which in turn leads children to miss school and prevents them from getting a proper education.

"This means that poor housing doesn't just affect children today but means their whole future suffers."

Shelter is calling for 1,330 more social homes in the North West to help children grow up in better housing.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: "The council has recently commissioned a housing condition survey to gain evidence of the quality of housing stock.

"The council has also carried out a survey to find out about more vulnerable households.We remain committed to reducing the number of homeless children." The Government said that, despite the statistics on homeless children, homelessness in general had fallen in the North West by a quarter since last year.

National statistics show that 3,010 new households became homeless in the North West during April to June of this year - 25% lower than the same time last year.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said: "We've made great progress in preventing and tackling homelessness in the North West with the latest figures showing a 25% reduction.

"But there are still too many people in temporary accommodation and overcrowded conditions and we need to continue the work to prevent rough sleeping."