CHILDREN'S charities have been inundated with calls about child abuse since the revelations about Jimmy Savile came to light earlier this year.

Calls to the Children 1st helpline have almost doubled in the month following the TV documentary on the shamed star who died in October last year. Bosses at the charity said the rise is the greatest number of calls in one month ever.

Calls to its Parentline service, the free national helpline provided by Children 1st for anyone with concerns about a child, showed 23% were about concerns over a child's safety.

The calls are not related to the Savile investigation, but the publicity surrounding the scandal has led to people being more aware of child protection and made people more willing to report fears and concerns.

Anne Houston, chief executive of Children 1st, said: "Since the first documentary on Jimmy Savile aired at the beginning of October, ParentLine Scotland, has experienced an upsurge in calls and e-mails."

She urged people to listen to children if they have made complaints so action can be taken.

Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell said there were increasing calls across the country and there were only a small number of agencies running helplines.

She asked the Children's Minister Aileen Campbell if the Government was aware of any increase in calls and would it consider setting up a national helpline for victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

Ms Campbell said it was aware of an increase and said it had given £5.5million in services and would continue to engage with organisations.

Anyone with a concern about a child can contact ParentLine Scotland on 08000 28 22 33 or by e-mailing parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk.