A jump in the number of families being housed in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation has prompted criticism of the government's housing policy.

Data released on Wednesday revealed a five per cent increase in the number of people housed in bed and breakfast or other temporary accommodation.

The total number of households in bed and breakfast or Annexe-style accommodation with shared facilities at the end of June was 12,420 - a rise of 620 households over the last year.

Charities say that the government is failing to meet its commitment to reduce the number of families housed in often sub-standard bed and breakfast accommodation.

They say that temporary accommodation is often unsatisfactory - cramming a family into a single room without adequate toilet, washing or cooking facilities.

In a report to be published next week, Shelter will point to the problems associated with bed and breakfast accommodation. The charity says children often lack proper nourishment and live in potentially dangerous or life threatening conditions.

The problem of families being housed in temporary accommodation is most acute in London, where almost one in five families housed by local authorities are in bed and breakfast facilities.

The number of families who are classed as being homeless has also risen over the last year.

In the second quarter of this year, an additional two per cent of families were registered as being homeless.

The government has also been criticised after it emerged that the method of calculating the number of homeless families has been changed.

Under the old system of calculation, the number of homeless families seeking local authority assistance would have grown by nearly 20 per cent.