Record reports of bullying to Childline

Calls to Childline from young people worried about bullying have risen to the highest level in the charity's 18-year history, it was announced today.

More than 31,000 children spoke to a Childline counsellor about bullying in the 12 months to March, compared with just over 21,000 the previous year. Bullying is the single biggest reason children contact the charity, accounting for one in four calls to the 24-hour helpline.

The figures coincide with a fundraising bid to enable more children to speak to a Childline counsellor. About 2,300 children a day speak to one of the charity's volunteers but hundreds more get a message asking them to call again later.

The new Childline Foundation aims to raise ?1 million in a year to pay for training and call costs to allow all children who call the 0800 1111 line to speak to a counsellor.