MORE than 2,000 children from Oxfordshire called ChildLine last year for support and advice.

Figures from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which runs the service, showed there were 2,068 calls from children and young people calling from Oxfordshire dialling codes.

There were also a further 600 calls from people in the county who were concerned about the welfare of a child.

And there may have been many more calls made from county children using mobile phones, which represent 76 per cent of calls to the helpline.

The charity is now calling on people to support the service as volunteer fundraisers.

Fundraising development manager Amanda Howard said: “These new figures show that the NSPCC’s ChildLine service is still crucial for children and young people across Oxfordshire.

“With each call to the service costing at least £4, we really do rely on local people to help us raise the money we need to keep it going.”

She said there were only around 30 volunteer supporters in Oxfordshire, and only two in Oxford itself.

In other counties the average is closer to 80 volunteers supporting the service.

Ms Howard said: “We are always looking for new members to lead a small event such as hosting afternoon tea, putting on a sponsored dog walk or running a golf challenge, while helping promote the NSPCC messages at a local level.”

For more information about how to help, email amanda.howard@nspcc.org.uk or call 01608 678967.