A food crisis is developing in the UK as rising prices leave poor families unable to provide decent meals for their children, says Save the Children. The warning comes as figures in The Grocer magazine show that prices rose by 18% over the past year.

Colette Marshall, of Save the Children, said: "We are facing a crisis. Benefits simply haven't been enough, and with rising food costs families cannot afford to give children proper decent food. We think we are heading towards malnutrition here in the UK." She called on the government to meet its target of halving child poverty by 2010.

The Grocer said a typical basket of 33 items of food cost £48 a year ago. That has risen to £57.50.