A COUNSELLING helpline has announced that it expects to receive more than 3500 calls from children in Scotland over the festive period.

ChildLine is preparing for an influx of calls as Christmas approaches, with many of its advisers working on Christmas Day.

Its Scottish bases are projected to carry out 3633 counselling sessions with children and young people by the end of the month.

In December last year, ChildLine's bases in Glasgow and Aberdeen received 490 contacts about family relationship issues, and 446 about bullying and online bullying.