New research has revealed how much children suffer when their parents or siblings are imprisoned.

The study by the Federation of Prisoners' Families Support Groups (FPFSG) revealed that at least 100,000 children are separated from a jailed father each year and 8,000 are separated from their mothers.

The project It's Time to Listen found that many of the youngsters suffered serious disruption to their lives. Some were taken into care while others were forced to move house.

The study, which was funded by the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund interviewed 50 children aged 12 to 18 in London, Durham and Manchester.

Nearly 75 per cent experienced problems when they tried to visit their relative in jail and many felt they were treated differently by teachers, neighbours and friends.

And neary 90 per cent said no one had ever asked them how they were coping with the experience or if they needed help.

The report said: "The specific needs of teenagers with a brother or sister in prison are being overlooked because adults are not recognising that this separation might be difficult and different for young people."

The FPFSG is now calling for visiting arrangements in prisons to be improved so that children can maintain contact with their relatives and for social workers to do more to support children in this position.