HUNDREDS of Isle of Wight children will be homeless this Christmas, new figures have revealed.

Currently, there are 265 homeless children on the Isle of Wight — a rate of one in every 95 children, according to Shelter, a housing and homelessness charity.

Although homelessness legislation in Britain means children should never have to sleep rough, this can happen in extreme cases.

However, the majority of homeless children are living in temporary accommodation, such as hotels and B&Bs — although they have a roof over their heads, they are still officially classed as homeless because it is not a permanent home and they can be moved at very short notice.

In 2013, there were 217 homeless children on the Island — meaning in the last five years there has been an increase of 22 per cent.

The Isle of Wight is ranked 44 in England for homeless figures.

Studies have found children who have been homeless are more likely to suffer from mental health problems, even after being rehoused.

The Shelter report said: “The trauma caused by living in temporary accommodation and sofa-surfing can worsen mental health issues, leading to the development of problematic behaviours.”

Overall, there will be an estimated 131,000 children homeless in Britain this Christmas — three per cent higher than last year.

The highest local rate was in London, with one in 11 children in Westminster facing a Christmas in temporary accommodation.