Home alone: Childline calls up 20% on Christmas Day

CHILDLINE volunteers handled almost 700 telephone calls from anxious kids on Christmas Day.

Many children were left home alone or felt abandoned due to the misuse of drink and drugs by parents.

Distressed children, worried about their own abuse of drink and drugs, also contacted the agency. Childline centres around Ireland, manned by 36 volunteers, also handled calls from homeless teenagers under 15 years old.