A recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has ranked Mendip as the 251st most destitute area out of 360 in the UK, with a destitution score of 0.559.

People are considered destitute if they have not been able to meet their most basic physical needs to stay warm, dry, clean, and fed.

This can be because they either lack necessities like clothing, heating, shelter, or food or because their income is so extremely low that they are unable to purchase these items for themselves.

The report - the fourth in a series of Destitution in the UK studies published regularly in recent years - puts the rise down to a combination of very low incomes, rising cost of living, and high levels of debt.

But it also blamed the social security system for failing to protect people, with 72% of those destitute being in receipt of benefits.

In the UK last year, about 3.8 million people, including a million children, lived in poverty. The report attributes the rising levels to low incomes, inadequate social security systems, soaring costs of essential items, and high levels of debt.

The Joseph Roundtree Foundation is now calling on all political parties to make tackling destitution a priority ahead of the next General Election.

It says nationally around 3.8 million people, including around one million children, experienced destitution in 2022 – a 61 per cent increase since 2019

Paul Kissack, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "Across our country we are leaving families freezing in their homes or lacking basic necessities like food and clothing.

"Such severe hardship should have no place in the UK today – and the British public will not stand for destitution on this scale."

The destitution score for Mendip stands at 0.559. While not at the top of the list, the score is a sobering reflection of the challenges many residents face in meeting basic living needs.

Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick, from Heriot-Watt University, added: "This is morally reprehensible and must act as a stark wake-up call to policymakers across the political spectrum."

A UK Government spokesperson said: "Our number one priority is driving down inflation because that will help everyone's money go further."

The spokesperson outlined financial support "worth an average of £3,300 per household" which has been provided to date, as well as an investment of £3.5 billion to help people into work, and the expansion of free childcare.

Charities and other organisations hope Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will announce a rise in benefits which is at least in line with inflation when he makes his autumn statement on November 22 – although Downing Street has declined to make any commitment, saying there is a process to follow.