A politician believes more than 1,000 households in Watford are going a whole day without eating due to the cost of living crisis.

The Food Foundation thinktank says soaring energy and grocery prices, along with the removal in October of the £20 Covid top-up to universal credit, is having a "devastating impact" on the food consumption of millions of people.

The foundation surveyed more than 4,000 UK adults and found 3.6 per cent of households went a whole day without eating, while up to nine per cent were skipping meals because they cannot afford food.

Watford Labour councillor Asif Khan, who is standing to be mayor of Watford at the May election, says there are 38,000 households in Watford and based on the foundation's survey, this indicates 1,375 households in the town are going a whole day without eating.

He said: "The cost of living crisis is spiralling out of control, yet instead of offering the support families in Watford need, the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are wasting our money and raising our taxes – just when we can least afford it.

"As Mayor, I will bring in a poverty charter, with the aim to eliminate child and pensioner poverty, working with charities and ensuring the council’s powers are used to address this pressing issue.

"Labour has suggested a sensible plan to support families – funded by fair taxes on the multi-billion profits of oil and gas producers."

Responding to Cllr Khan's comments about tax rises, Watford Lib Dem mayor Peter Taylor said: "We are increasing Watford Council’s portion of council tax by 1.5 per cent this year. This is well below inflation, which currently stands at over 5 per cent.

He added: "In the last year that Labour ran the council (Watford) they raised council tax by 10 per cent and were deemed to be one of the worst performing councils in the country. The Labour Mayor of London is planning to increase his share of council tax by 8.8 per cent this year."

Reacting to the Food Foundation's findings, a Government spokesperson told the Guardian: "We know this has been a challenging time for many people, which is why we’re providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help households with the cost of living, including putting an average of £1,000 more per year into the pockets of working families, and we have announced a further £9bn to protect against the impact of rising global energy prices.

"Our £500m household support fund is also giving more help to the most vulnerable with essential costs such as food this winter, and our holiday activities and food programme is providing healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children during major school holidays."