VOLUNTEERS for south Essex charities for people in distress or despair will man the phones around the clock over the festive period.

Samaritans branches in Southend and Basildon, which are each separate charities, will have volunteers ready to lend a sympathetic ear every day over Christmas and the New Year.

More than 45 per cent of men who responded to an online survey by Samaritans said they felt more worried at Christmas than other times of the year and, nationally, Samaritans received about 244,000 calls during the Christmas period from people in the UK and Ireland last year.

Leah Buzer, director of Southend Samaritans, which is based in York Road, said: “Many of our callers have told us that Christmas is a tough time for them, which is why our volunteers will be available round the clock, for anyone who is struggling to cope, including on Christmas Day.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the inspirational people who keep our service running every single day of the year when many others are closed.”

While many people will be spending the holidays with friends and family, more than a third of male respondents to Samaritans’ survey admitted to feeling lonely at Christmas.

Men are also much less likely than women to have a positive view of counselling or therapy and when they do use these services, it is more likely to be at the point of crisis. The charity is encouraging men to seek help and consider calling Samaritans if things are getting to them over the festive period.

Phil Eastty, 64, of Eastwood, who will be volunteering on Christmas Day, said: “We answer lots of calls over the Christmas period, and many of those are from men who feel like their family would be better off without them. That’s why it’s so important that Samaritans volunteers like me are there for those men when they need to talk and anyone who needs us over this period.”

To contact a Samaritan, call 08457 909090 or email jo@samaritans.org.

To donate or for more information, visit www.samaritans.org