ISPCC only able to answer two-fifths of Childline calls

The ISPCC says a shortage of volunteer staff prevented it from answering more than half of the calls made to its Childine service last year.

The charity says it was only able to answer 40% of the 640,000 calls made to the helpline last year.

The figure is an improvement on 2005, but the ISPCC says it is still seriously struggling to keep up with demand

Of the calls made, 16% were about sexual issues, 4% about pregnancy and 4% about sexual abuse.