Scotland’s top doctor has said the country cannot be called a “civilised society” until it has defeated child poverty.

Professor Sir Harry Burns made the comment in the documentary “One In Four”, part of the STV Appeal.

The film takes its title from the number of children living in poverty, 250,000 of them in Scotland.

Professor Burns said: "The hallmark of a civilised society is how it looks after the most vulnerable. If we reach a point where we say we can't do this anymore, I think that's the point we've recognised that we've failed to create a civilised society."

The documentary is narrated by actor Bill Paterson, who is ashamed by the number of children living in poverty in Scotland.

He said: "The figure we now face, where we've got one in four children officially living in poverty, I think is a disgraceful figure. It's beyond me to see why we allowed ourselves to get to that stage."

“One In Four” has been made as part of the STV Appeal, which is raising money for charities tackling child poverty.

It will be broadcast on STV at 7.30pm on Thursday.

IN DETAIL

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