East Renfrewshire has one of the highest numbers of children facing homelessness in Scotland, according to a new report.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed there are 4,500 children on housing waiting lists in the local area.

This figure is higher than in neighbouring Glasgow and is only exceeded by Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian.

A total of 4,569 adults and 4,482 children in East Renfrewshire were said to be in a queue for a permanent home.

Many are currently living in emergency accommodation, such as a hostel, while they wait for a council or housing association property.

Barrhead resident Sean Clerkin, who is campaigns co-ordinator for the Scottish Tenants Organisation, said he is shocked by the number of local children who are without a permanent home.

He added: “The Scottish Government needs to increase funding to East Renfrewshire Council to enable more social housing to be built.

“This problem has been going on for far too long. It is not good for the mental and physical wellbeing of children and their parents to be waiting for a home. The figures show that even affluent areas like East Renfrewshire are not immune from the affects of poverty.”

The FOI request was submitted to each of the country’s 32 local authorities by the Scottish Conservatives.

Miles Briggs, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, has urged the Scottish Government to deliver more homes.

He said: “This is nothing short of a scandal.”

However, the SNP has defended its efforts to provide affordable housing.

Spokeswoman Kaukab Stewart said: “Since 2007, we have been leading the way in the creation of affordable homes, nearly 67,000 of which were for social rent.

“The Scottish Government’s per capita spending on affordable housing is more than three times higher than the UK Government.”