PARENTS are being urged to think carefully before leaving their children at home alone during the summer holidays.

The NSPCC's helpline received 109 calls and email between April 2015 and March 2016 from adults in London and the south east seeking advice.

The law does not give a minimum age for leaving children alone at home but it is against the law if it is deemed to put them at risk.

One woman who called the helpline said: "I’m really worried about a young girl who’s been in the house by herself for a whole day now.

"Her mother visits her partner over the weekends.

"The child is always looking very sad and unkempt which upsets me.

"This has been going on for months but I felt as if I couldn’t say anything as I’m related to them and I didn’t want to compromise our relationship. "But I just can’t keep quiet anymore.”

Colin Peak, Regional Head of Service for the NSPCC, said: “Summer holidays can be a fun time for children but it’s also when they are more likely to be left home alone as parents face increasing childcare pressures.

"This could explain why we see a spike in calls to our helpline during these months. “Leaving your child home alone can be a difficult decision as children mature at different ages – there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer.

"But it could put them at greater risk of accident or injury.

"So I would urge parents to use their common sense when deciding if their child could cope.

"They should also ask them how they feel about being left alone and talk to them about what to do in an emergency.

"Parents are best placed to know what is right for their child so it vital there is flexibility for them to decide.”

The NSPCC's advice: ·

  • Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone
  • Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period of time
  • Children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight
  • Parents and carers can be prosecuted for neglect if it is judged that they placed a child at risk by leaving them at home alone
  • A child should never be left at home alone if they do not feel comfortable with this, regardless of their age
  • If a child has additional needs, these should be considered when leaving them at home alone or with an older sibling
  • When leaving a younger child with an older sibling think about what may happen if they were to have a falling out - would they both be safe?