Youngsters in need of a listening ear can depend on a Maidstone mother and her daughter come New Year's Day.

Childine expects to answer more than 1,400 calls between Christmas Eve and January 4 2019.

Last year one 10-year-old boy told Childline: “Mum forgot Christmas because of her drinking – she drinks a lot. It’s just me and mum since dad left to live with his new partner. I don’t see him anymore as he has a new family.

“When I told her I had wished she had remembered Christmas she just said Santa isn’t real anyway. All my friends are having big meals with music and family and presents but not me. Mum is just sleeping all day and I feel really sad. I went in to her room to see if she wanted to watch some TV and she yelled at me to get out. It hurt my heart."

Answering the phones on New Year's Day will be Maidstone's Michele Baxter and her daughter Ella.

Mrs Baxter, who volunteers at the charity's London base, said: "Christmas can be a very difficult time for many children and young people. Some children may not have a family to spend Christmas with or there may be problems going on at home or it may be that a child is struggling with the loss of a loved one.

"Dedicated Childline volunteer counsellors will be on the end of phone lines and online around the clock this Christmas to ensure hundreds of children and young people have someone to talk to."

Children and young people can contact Childline anytime on 0800 1111.