A FREE 24-hour helpline is expecting to be inundated with calls from children in trouble or in danger during the Christmas and New Year period.

Over the last couple of years, the festive season has become one of the busiest times of the year for Childline North West.

From Christmas Eve until January 5 last year, trained volunteers counselled more than 300 children and young people.

The main problems were physical abuse (21 per cent), bullying (15 per cent), family relationship problems (11 per cent) and sexual abuse (10 per cent).

William Kidd, Director of Childline North West, said he was surprised to see how much the number of calls increased over the Christmas and New Year in recent years.

He said: "It is quite a tough time of year for children and they are looking for help and support from various places including Childline.

"They know we are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and thank goodness we are.

"For most people, Christmas is a happy time but for some it is awful.

"We speak to children and young people all year round but at Christmas the calls are on a festive theme - no presents, no one interested in them, empty houses, other people having a nice time.

"Children now call us from their own mobile phones so they don't have to find an excuse to go out and ring us from a payphone.

"The volunteers who give up their own time to man the phones are a group of remarkable people."

The counsellors offer comfort, advice and protection to hundreds of children and young people every year.

Lack of funding often means that lines are very busy and callers have to redial several times before they can get through.

If you would like to make a donation, call 0161 834 9945 and the number of Childline is 0800 1111.