A BID to stop thousands of abused and frightened children slipping through the ChildLine net has been launched in Bury and Bolton.

Many calls of desperation to Childline go unanswered because the lines are too busy.

Business and civic leaders from the two towns met up last week to officially launch the Bolton and Bury Appeal to raise more cash to help children.

Last year, more than 27,000 attempted calls were made to ChildLine from the Bolton and Bury area. Due to a lack of cash the charity was able to answer only 25 per cent.

Bolton and Bury Business of the Year, Wingates-based dabs.com, who sell goods on the Internet, have been the first to announce its support to Childline's fund-raising drive. The Bolton based e-tailer has committed itself to raise £25,000 in a staff fund-raising bid.

The business chose ChildLine after being impressed by its work in the region.

ChildLine are hoping floods of calls from other companies will now follow suit as they attempt to raise thousands for a 24-hour helpline.

Corporate fund-raiser for Childline, Gaynor Lawton said: "We had a very good response at the launch. The feedback from everyone was very impressive and positive."

Representatives from more than 35 local firms attended the special luncheon at Bolton Town Hall alongside the mayor and mayoress from both Bolton and Bury, and chief executive of the Bolton and Bury Chamber, Mr Richard Bindless.

Sales and marketing director of dabs.com Jonathan Wall, addressed the gathering praising the local work of ChildLine.

After the private function, dabs.com managing director, David Atherton, said: "ChildLine has a fantastic facility in the North West which offers help and advice to children and young people stretching from Cheshire to Cumbria.

"Many people do not know that to counsel one child over the phone it costs £32.

"More than 700 children call ChildLine's counselling centre every day but at least half can not get through because the lines are so busy."

ChildLine are hoping to raise an extra £20,000 in six months by a whirlwind of fund-raising events involving employers and workers alike.

Facts about ChildLine in Bury and Bolton:

19 per cent of callers ring about physical abuse.

17 per cent have suffered family relationship problems.

8.5 per cent of callers are worried about the facts of life.

6.5 per cent ring because they are being sexually abused.

PICTURED - From the left, Mayoress of Bury, Mrs Joyce Johnson; Councillor Alan Wilkinson, Mayor of Bolton, and Councillor Bill Johnson, Mayor of Bury, at the launch of the Childline appeal.