New research has revealed that more than 100,000 children are living in London without secure immigration status, despite half of them being born in the UK.

An estimated 107,000 undocumented under-18s and a further 26,000 undocumented 24-year-olds are living in the capital, excluded by government policies that leave them unable to do basic things we take for granted like open a bank account.

Sadiq Khan, who commissioned the research, said it shines a light on the children and young Londoners "living in fear of deportation" due to hostile immigration policies, dubbing it a "national disgrace."

Despite more than half of these young people being born in the UK, they are "excluded from life," unable to access higher education, open a bank account, apply for a driving licence, secure a house or a job, according to the research undertaken by the University of Wolverhampton.

Those above the age of 18 also face the threat of deportation to a country they may never have been to.

Khan warned that Brexit could cause a further crisis if the 260,000 European-national children and 96,000 young adults living in London were not supported in applying for citizenship or the EU Settlement Scheme.

He stated: "It is a national disgrace that there are hundreds of thousands of young Londoners being denied the opportunity of a secure future in our city and living in constant fear of deportation from the Government’s hostile immigration policies.

“The application process for the EU Settlement Scheme is unnecessarily complex and, with many vulnerable people struggling to secure their rights, the Government risks abandoning whole generations to an uncertain future.

“The Windrush scandal proved that the Government’s hostile immigration policies were not fit for purpose and swift action must be taken now to support our young people and prevent another crisis taking place.”

The mayor called on the Government and its ministers to take urgent action to support young people through financial support, advice services, cutting immigration and citizenship fees and reinstating legal aid for children's immigration cases.

Coram Children’s Legal Centre’s Group Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Kamena Dorling added that UK immigration policy is "failing" a significant number of children growing up in the UK

“These children are growing up in limbo instead of being legal citizens in the country they call home."

“What they need is stability and permanence and for a citizenship and immigration system that is fair and accessible so that they can fully integrate.

"No citizenship and immigration system can succeed if it excludes this many of the country’s children and teenagers from legal status.”