The cost of raising a child from birth until their 21st birthday has rocketed to ?222,000, according to a study.
The overall figure is more than ?4,000 up on last year and ?82,000 more than a decade ago - an increase of 58%.
The most expensive areas to raise children over the past decade remain London (?239,123), the South East (?237,233) and the East of England (?233,363).
Families in the South West have seen the biggest hike in costs, now paying ?10,077 more per child than they were 10 years ago.
Education and childcare remain the biggest costs, with 76% of parents forced to make cutbacks to meet the financial demands of raising their offspring, the survey for insurer LV= found.
The cost of education, including uniforms, after-school clubs and university costs has rocketed from ?32,593 to ?72,832 per child in the last decade - a 124% rise. This does not include private school fees.
Childcare costs alone have risen by 61% from ?9,613 in 2003 to ?6,738.
From birth to the ages of 21, parents spend an average of ?19,270 on food and ?16,195 on holidays per child
Link: Cost Of Raising A Child Soars To ?222,000