The health of young children in Britain depends on the wealth of their parents, according to a new report.

The study by Barnardo's says children born in poorer areas are more likely to grow up with health problems and have accidents.

Author Helen Roberts, Barnardo's research and development manager, calls on the Government to make child health a priority to reduce the gulf.

She said: "There is compelling evidence linking health and wealth. Inequalities in child health can only be tackled fundamentally by policies that reduce poverty and income inequality."

The research shows children from a deprived home are 15 times more likely to die in a house fire than a child in a better-off family.

And children in the lowest social class were twice as likely to die before the age of 15 as a child in the highest social class

They are more also likely to die in their first year of life, be born small or early, be bottle fed, smoke, have a parent who smokes, be poorly nourished, become a lone parent, have or father a child at a younger age and die younger.

Young children from disadvantaged backgrounds are also less likely to be protected from infectious disease through immunisation than other children, while women who spent time in care, have babies much earlier than other women.

The study reported that at any one time a fifth of children and adolescents experience psychological problems and families with disabled children have nearly a quarter fewer resources than all families with children.

The charity's report What Works in Reducing Inequalities in Child Health calls for a minimum income to help poor families, equal access to affordable childcare, an inclusive education system and accessible health, leisure and transport facilities.