Childline's night-time call service is in danger of closing unless an emergency appeal for donations is successful, the ISPCC warned today.

The charity, which is funded almost exclusively by public donations, is hoping to raise €1.2m to keep the phone answered on a 24-hour basis.

For 15 of its last 26 years of operation, Childline has been available to distressed children as a 24-hour service receiving 1,800 calls per day, but now says that it may be forced to close its lines at night if it cannot raise the funds needed to maintain the service.

Ambassador Ryan Tubridy today launched the Childline emergency appeal, which will run through October and November, supported by a national promotional campaign under the theme ‘No child should be forced into silence’.

Donations to the campaign can be made online, by phone at 1850 50 40 50 or by texting ‘Childline’ to 57911 to donate €4.