THE plight of Britain's growing hidden poor, including people from North Wiltshire and Swindon, who end up below the poverty line, is highlighted in a new report.

A staggering 3.8m Britons from solid career backgrounds people such as teachers, nurses and managers are living on as little as £114 a week, according to the study by national charity, the Elizabeth Finn Trust.

The charity, which currently helps 53 people in North Wiltshire and Swindon, says ill health, redundancy, family breakdown and poor pension provision are among the reasons for people falling into the poverty trap.

But once in the trap, the hidden poor have another problem their own pride.

The report reveals that many struggle on for at least a year before finally hitting a rock bottom.

The problem looks set to grow, according to the report by the the trust which is a charity.

It polled 10,000 adults, including 900 in the south west, and interviewed 450 beneficiaries of the trust.

The report says: "With the ageing population, we will see an increase in the number of retired professionals who are in an ever more precarious position because of the increasing uncertainty over personal and company pensions.

"As people live longer, their pensions are squeezed at the other end too, because their annuities are paying out increasingly smaller amounts as the money has to stretch further."

Angela Bailey, the regional co-ordinator for trust in the south west, said: "We tend to assume people such as managers, accountants, teachers and nurses should be able to look after themselves.

"This new research dispels this myth and also shows that only when people are in desperate circumstances do they ask for help.

"We'd urge these people, including those from North Wiltshire and Swindon, to come forward and if we can't help, we can usually point them in the direction of someone who can."

The National Union of Teachers Swindon Branch secretary, Ian Hill, said: "Young teachers can suffer if they have high mortgages in this area and are bringing up young families.

"Wages for new teachers start at just below £20,000 and they can struggle for the first few years.

"Pension provision is not always good for women who have been out of the profession during their careers."

To find out how the trust can help, call 0800 413220 or visit www.elizabethfinntrust.org.uk.

Catherine Turnbull