Almost 5,000 of Enfield’s children are living in temporary accommodation, figures have revealed.

Statistics show the borough had the fourth highest level in the capital at the end of 2014.

Former Olympic minister Tessa Jowell released the statistics, which indicate a 17 per cent increase in just two years from 3,670 in 2012, to 4,879 in 2014.

Neighbouring borough Haringey was one of only three other boroughs to have a higher rate of children in temporary accommodation with 5,322, as of 2014.

Brent has 5,140 children in temporary accommodation with Newham slightly lower on 4,994 children.

Commenting on the figures, Mrs Jowell, said: “We are a city of billionaires and millionaires, yet child homelessness is disgracefully high and rising.

“Inequality is robbing these children of their childhood. We have to build more houses, we have to tackle the inequality in London and we have to start binding our city back together to build one London not two.”

Enfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing Ahmet Oykener told the Enfield Independent that the figures are “unacceptable.”

He said: “These figures are not acceptable and as a council we have several housing scheme which are going ahead to help cut down this number.

“However, we need help from the Greater London Authority and the next Government, whatever colour it is, to allow us to build homes quicker and stop this housing crisis.”

The cabinet member pointed to the developments at Alma estate, in Ponders End, Ladderswood, in New Southgate, and Meridian Water, which he hopes will create 8,000 new homes in the next five years.

He added: “There needs to be a relaxing of the borrowing cap because we are not able to replace stock once it has been sold.

“Through our housing gateway and housing innovation we are determined to stop people falling into temporary accommodation but the government must ease the pressure.”