Two charity workers are preparing to live on one pound a day as part of a fundraising campaign to highlight global poverty issues.

Eve Gyimah, 26, and Keith Short, 28, both from Streatham, will take on the challenging task of spending just one pound daily on food for the ‘Live Below the Line’ campaign.

The initiative is being run by Restless Development, a youth-led development agency, from May 7 to May 11 to highlight the 1.4 billion people across the world living below the poverty line.

Ms Gyimah said: “I guess the whole point of it is it’s actually very hard to live on a pound a day and it’s not supposed to be an easy task.

“We’re only using it for our food and drink, meanwhile the people we’re talking about are using it for everything in their life including education, transport and health.”

Ms Gyimah has already done a practice run for the challenge, eating just porridge, rice, stewed tomato sauce, soup, frozen vegetables and the occasional biscuit.

“Lidl on Streatham High road has proved pretty handy- it’s all about rationing,” she said.

The campaign is supported by actors David Morrissey and Bonnie Wright, and has already raised £28,000 towards various youth-themed causes in Africa and Asia. The charity will hold a launch event during the campaign week with the stars of The Only Way Is Essex.