Childline NI counselling manager Liz Osbourne

If the lines are busy, an answerphone message tells children to keep redialling.

The Northern Ireland regional office has said it has already exceeded expectations by counselling more than 2,000 children and opening four days a week.

But it realises it needs to expand the local service.

Counselling manager at the Northern Ireland office Liz Osbourne told the BBC: "Here in Northern Ireland since we opened, we are making a bigger impact locally, but bases in England are struggling to cope.

"We are trying to better develop our services. We hope soon to be able to open for a fifth day a week and by this time next year we hope to be able to open seven days a week.

"But we need people to understand that it takes time to train counsellors, but of course finance is behind it all."

Ms Osbourne said that the most common problem children calling the Northern Ireland line were suffering from was bullying.

Physical and sexual abuse was the next common problem.

She said that many children who phoned were concerned about their relationships with friends or about parents' divorces or separations.

Childline is 90% funded by donations and 10% funded by the government.

The Childline number is 0800 1111