A CHILD abuse helpline is receiving hundreds of extra calls each year from members of the public in Essex concerned about the welfare of youngsters.

The NSPCC has revealed it received 916 referrals in the county during 2015/16, a 39 per cent increase compared to four years ago.

The charity believes high-profile incidents such as the Jimmy Savile scandal mean the public is now unwilling to turn a blind eye to child welfare issues.

Concerns about the neglect of a child were the most common cause for concern in Essex last year, with 408 referrals being made to the helpline, up 51 per cent on the figures from 2012.

Referrals regarding physical abuse of a child, meanwhile, have risen from 165 in 2012/13 to 201 last year, an increase of 21 per cent.

The figures for Essex are in line with national trends, with the NSPCC reporting a 40 per cent in the number of reports sufficiently serious to warrant referral to police or local authorities.

The concerns raised ranged from those worried about young people who were victims of sexual abuse to children living in squalid conditions, as well as fears about starving toddlers and youngsters thrust into slavery.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: “These figures reveal a nation that is more alive to the issues of child abuse following recent high profile scandals and the ongoing investigation into non-recent child abuse.

“They have become increasingly concerned and aware of the tell-tale signs of abuse and neglect in children and our helpline is an invaluable service for people worried about the safety of a young person.

“But when people are worried, and feel they need to speak to someone, they can be reassured they will be listened to and taken seriously.”

For more information, visit nspcc.org.uk