The number of workers living in poverty has reached a record high as the UK's housing crisis fuels growing insecurity, a new study reveals.

Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) showed that 3.8 million workers, or one in eight, are in poverty after an increase since the economy started recovering six years ago.

A total of 7.4 million people, including 2.6 million children, are living in poverty despite being part of working households, said the report.

Any overall increase in poverty levels has been held off in part by record employment levels, the report noted, with the figure of 1.4 million children living in workless households being the lowest recorded.