A leading think tank has called for Wales to develop its own anti-poverty strategy, as new figures reveal the extent of deprivation across the country.

The New Policy Institute said a third of all Welsh children are living in poverty.

The institute said Labour governments in both Cardiff and Westminster need to double their efforts if they are to achieve their target of eliminating child poverty in 20 years' time.

Youth unemployment at 14% runs higher than any other part of the UK, except Merseyside.

Peter Clarke backs calls for a devolved approach

The Welsh Assembly is spending �83m over three years on Communities First, a plan to tackle deprivation.

But that is all the administration can do under its devolution settlement with the UK Government at London.

As part of a week-long examination at poverty levels, BBC Wales asked the New Policy Institute to examine statistics available on the extent of poverty and social exclusion.

• 700,000 people live below the UK Government's low-income threshold (�225 for a couple with two children, after tax).

• 250,000 children live in households below that poverty threshold.

• Those numbers have come down by about 10% since Labour took power in 1997.

• In Europe, only Greece has more people below the poverty threshold.

Children's Commissioner for Wales has echoed the report's call for a devolved poverty strategy.

"Many children report they feel stigmatised by the school meals system and get bullied by peers, " he said.

"For families with little money coming in, it all adds pressure.

"This government' pledges to eradicate poverty is vital, but we need to work to ensure that happens within a generation.

"The report shows things have got better by 10 to 15% in period when they should got become better by 20%.

"We do need to really target those areas of the country where there are high areas of poverty - the south Wales valleys and poorer rural locations.

"There is a limit to what the assembly can do. All they can do is use the Welsh Office to bring pressure to bare on the Westminster government."

As assembly spokesperson said it was trying to help through initiatives like Objective One; Communities First; and Better Advice, Better Health, a �3m project which puts Citizens Advice Bureau staff in doctors' surgeries.