THE Samaritans of Bournemouth and District answered almost 46,000 calls for help last year, statistics state.

Some 116 volunteers took time to answer the calls and the service in the south of England was contacted almost 513,000 times by people struggling to cope.

The statistics have been made public to mark this year’s National Volunteers’ Week, and show that a record 30,800 volunteering enquiries were received in 2013 through the national Samaritans website.

Samaritans relies entirely on generosity and hard work of its volunteers to support those struggling to cope and is now calling for new volunteers.

Call 01202 558090 or visit samaritans.org/volunteer