A TV Dame is reminding children they are not alone after last December was revealed to be the loneliest month for children contacting Childline.

According to Childline, a service run by the NSPCC, counselling sessions about loneliness peaked over the festive period in 2020, with the service delivering a record number of nearly 600 sessions in December alone.

From April 2020 to March 2021 there were 6,039 counselling sessions about loneliness, marking an all-time high for a single year and an increase of nearly half (49 per cent) over the past four years.

Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of Childline and Hampshire resident, said: "Last Christmas was one of the toughest in living memory, bringing with it great sadness and challenges for many children.

"We need to remind them that Childline is still there for them, and that they can contact us by phone or on-line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

"At Childline we know how painful Christmas can be for some children, particularly when the media is filled with pictures of families happily celebrating together, and they are feeling alone and unloved. A child once described it to us as like looking through a shop window where everything inside is warm and bright, and you are outside where it’s cold and dark.

"The festive period can be especially difficult for children who are struggling with their mental health or are in homes that are unsafe. Given the impact of the pandemic, it is no surprise that this year we’ve seen record numbers of children get in touch with us about loneliness."

Following these findings, Hampshire resident Imogen has spoken to the NSPCC about her experiences of living in an abusive household.

She said: "My home seemed pleasant, but would change whenever my father was around. When he was at the house it felt like there was a shadow over us all. Though my father left our home shortly before I finished primary school, my fear of him remained. By my teens, I viewed the idea of him killing me as a 'when', not an 'if.'

"As a child, I was quiet and withdrawn. I struggled to make new connections, and found trust difficult. I was terrified of authority, so from my first days at school I had an innate fear of my teachers, which continued well into my teens."

The data released by the NSPCC suggests that feelings of loneliness in children were exacerbated during the pandemic as schools were closed and they were forced to stay at home.

Children shared with Childline’s counsellors that these experiences were particularly acute over the festive period as households were unable to mix.

Young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via 1-2-1 chat on www.childline.org.uk, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.