Many of the callers were seeking advice for themselves

Total calls across Scotland for the previous year, January to December 2004, totalled 14,776.

The peak in calls nationally came at the same time as the Scottish Executive's festive domestic abuse campaign.

The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline is run by four permanent staff supported by a team of more than 60 volunteers.

The helpline's annual report revealed that of the total calls, 78% were from women seeking advice for themselves, 18% were calling on behalf of a family member or friend and 3% were seeking information on available resources.

This is the highest ever amount of calls we've received at the helpline and the volunteers have worked relentlessly to provide advice to women of all ages, from all backgrounds across Scotland Lynda Bell, helpline co-ordinator

Of the 408 calls received at the helpline from children, 72% were asking for help for their mother and 69 for themselves.

People from across Scotland have accessed the service. In Highland Council's area, 833 calls were made, while there were 30 from the Western Isles, 45 from Orkney Islands and 29 from the Shetlands.

The Scottish service also received 1,920 calls from England, 42 from Wales, 35 from Northern Ireland and 1,728 from mobile phones.

Children aware

Lynda Bell, helpline co-ordinator, said the rise indicated that more women had the confidence to seek advice.

She said: "This is the highest ever amount of calls we've received at the helpline and the volunteers have worked relentlessly to provide advice to women of all ages, from all backgrounds across Scotland."

Mary Lockhart, at Scottish Women's Aid, said it was encouraging so many children were aware of the helpline.