Despite staggeringly high levels of child homelessness, new figures from Shelter rank Richmond Borough as the second best.

The charity estimates that 392 children in the borough will wake up on Christmas morning without a permanent home. While this is still extremely high, when compared to neighbouring boroughs, children in Richmond are less impacted by the housing crisis.

Wandsworth borough is the 17th highest, with more than 2,500 children expected to be living in temporary accommodation this winter. This means that for one child will be homeless for every 23. In comparison, for the ratio in Richmond is 115:1.

Westminster, Haringey and Newham are the worst-affected local authorities in London, Richmond is way below 51 nationally. In Richmond, the population of people aged 0-17 is 45,122. According to the data, 4 percent of children will be without a home this winter.

While the analysis makes better reading for Richmond than other local authorities in London, there has been a 17 percent increase since 2013.

The new analysis from Shelter has found a 49 percent increase in London over the last five years. The charity warns the impact of the housing crisis will be felt across a generation as one in every 103 children in Britain is now homeless – climbing to one in every 23 in the capital.

An estimated, 87,310 children in London will now wake up on Christmas morning without a permanent home. In London, there are an average of 28 homeless children for every school.

The charity is calling on the public to support its urgent Christmas appeal - to give families the vital helpline advice and services they need in order to keep their homes over the festive period. Nationally 131,00 children in Britain are now homeless, the highest number in over a decade.

Greg Beales, director of campaigns at Shelter said, “No child should be homeless. But for the generation growing up in the housing crisis, this is the grim reality for many. The increasing number of children hidden away in hostels and BnBs is enough to make anyone’s heart sink. These are not places for children.

"We hear about cold, damp – even rats. Young children are sharing beds with multiple family members, trying to play in dirty public corridors, and having to leave their block in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

“Over the last five years, hundreds of thousands of children have known what it’s like to be homeless. The impact these young people cannot be overstated. It doesn’t have to be this way. If we act now, we can change tomorrow to make sure every child has somewhere they can call home.”

Richmond Council spokesperson said: "The report details from shelter details the number of children who are housed by Councils under statutory homelessness duties and so the use of the term `homeless’ refers to them being owed that legal duty and not that they have no accommodation.

"Our position compares favourably with almost all other London boroughs. These children, along with their parents, will be housed in suitable temporary accommodation providing, for the overwhelming majority of families, self-contained housing.

"Any instance of someone becoming homeless or being threatened with homelessness is regrettable. We encourage people who are homeless or about to be homeless to contact the Council so that we can work with them to either prevent them from becoming homeless in the first instant or to help them find suitable accommodation including, where possible, remaining in their current home. The Council is committed to supporting our most vulnerable residents including recently scrapping charges to store goods for people who have become homeless."

Tonight (December 5) hundreds of Londoners will embark on a 10km night-time fundraising walk across the city for Sleep Walk for Shelter. To support Shelter’s urgent appeal please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70020 to donate £3.