A new missing children helpline is receiving almost 60 calls a month on average, with many from children who are thinking of running away or who have already done so.

The ISPCC has set up a new support telephone service for children who are missing and families affected by a child who has gone missing.

IRELAND was one of a minority of EU countries that did not have a freephone hotline for missing children in place by yesterday’s deadline.

The Government was warned tonight it is on its last chance to adopt a Europe-wide hotline for missing children.