SCHOOLCHILDREN caught up in the breakdown of their parents' relationship can now turn to a specialist advice service in Bury.

A handful of Bury schools are already playing a role in helping youngsters cope with family break-ups.

Bury counselling service Relate has launched a new group "Relateen" to give advice and support to stressed teenagers throughout the borough.

Leaflets have been distributed to most schools informing youngsters of the help available, and appointments have so far been fully taken up.

Extra counsellors are being trained up to deal with an expected high demand, and the service is in need of more volunteers to become counsellors and receptionists. Relate manager Joyce Siddall said: "There is a designated person established at four schools already who can make appointments to see us. But pupils can also contact us directly if they don't want the school to know.

"While we set aside teenage appointments for a Wednesday afternoon at our office, an appointment can be made via a school's designated person or form teacher and we will come to the school."

She added: "We know there is a need for it. When we have been counselling adults, we have often been asked if we have any sessions for their children who are upset at the problems within the family."

Relate organisers are hoping to obtain funding for the new service, developed in consultation with the local education authority, so it can be expanded.

Chairman Stephen Danks added: "We hope we will be able to secure sufficient future funding to enable us to implement the service across all schools in the borough."

Relate, which was established in Bury in May 1969, is based in Parkhills Road. Its offshoot service "Relateen" was given a formal launch on October 3 at Bury Town Hall.