Childline has seen a surge in children under eleven reaching out for mental health support.

Data from the charity reveals there have been nearly 22,000 counselling sessions about mental health and wellbeing since lockdown, including almost 2,000 with eleven-year-olds and under, the charity said sessions had risen by 37 per cent.

Throughout the pandemic young people have told counsellors they are feeling low, unhappy, overwhelmed and more recently talked about the anxiety they feel as lockdown is eased.

The NSPCC joined 150 charities and organisations to call on the Government to put children on a par with health and the economy when it comes to recovery. They have demanded additional investment in support for children’s mental health and wellbeing in schools, as well as a coordinated plan from Government that demonstrates how services will respond to the likely increase in referrals.