Childline received 1,200 contacts from children this Christmas Day

The ISPCC says its Childline service received nearly 1,200 calls, texts and messages from children and young people on Christmas Day.

The charity said that children were feeling the impact of issues in the home such as financial pressures, family difficulties, isolation and alcohol abuse.

Seventy volunteers were on hand yesterday for children who needed to talk.

The ISPCC is also highlighting the effects of homelessness on children.

So far in 2015 Childline has received almost 900 contacts from children affected by, or concerned about, homelessness.