EAST Lancashire suffered a bout of the summertime blues during last year's heatwave, according to new figures from the Samaritans.

The Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley branch of the Samaritans received most calls in the hot summer months, reaching a peak of 2,154 calls in July.

That is an increase of 377 calls on the previous year, when October and November were the busiest months.

Annette, director of the branch at Park Street, Blackburn, said: "We are dealing with depression all year round but last summer's heatwave seems to have made things worse. "People may have been feeling lonely because the weather was hot and everybody else seemed to be out enjoying themselves.

"The warm weather also gives people more energy and if they have nothing to do they are bound to get frustrated."

There was also a high number of calls to the branch in July and August from people with suicidal feelings.

In both months, 83 people phoned contemplating suicide, which was the second highest monthly total behind January.

Annette said: "Summer is a time of increased activity in general, and suicide is one such activity."

The lowest number of calls to the branch last year was in February, with 1,463 people callling out of which 43 were considering suicide.

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