RESIDENTS in the region are surviving on less food in an effort to keep a roof over their heads, new figures have revealed.

A YouGov poll reveals that 30 per cent of people in the North-East and 36 per cent of Yorkshire and Humber residents cut back on buying food last year in a bid to stay in their homes.

Meanwhile, 23 per cent – more than 450,000 North-East residents – cut back on gas and electricity to help meet their rent or mortgage costs, as did 19 per cent, or nearly 800,000 people, in Yorkshire and the Humber.

And as the cost of living continues to rise and the next wave of Government cuts hits in April, homeless charity Shelter is bracing itself for an increase in demand for its services.

Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive, said: “These startling figures show just how many people across the North-East, Yorkshire and the Humber face a daily choice between the roof over their head and the food on their plate.

“The effects of the recession, the rising cost of housing and cuts to the housing safety net have left many families in a very vulnerable position.

“Every 15 minutes a family in England finds themselves homeless.”

Mr Robb said that Shelter had seen an increase in people asking for its help over the last six months and said that April’s benefit changes could be “the final blow” for people struggling to keep their homes.

He added: “Anyone whose home could be at risk needs to get advice as soon as possible.

“Shelter can help prevent more families going through the devastation of losing their home.”

Nationally, the YouGov research showed that families with children were hardest hit, with 42 per cent - equivalent to 5.5 million families – cutting back on food and one in four using less gas and electricity to help meet their rent or mortgage costs.

Support organisations across the North-East and Yorkshire have reported an increase in people needing their services and a food bank set up by the East Durham Trust in 2010 has seen demand quadruple over recent months.

It now supplies emergency food parcels to an average of 50 people per week, while volunteers behind the Durham Foodbank, which operates in West Auckland and Newton Aycliffe, also recently announced that they will run two further outlets to cope with increasing demand from people struggling to buy food.