OVER 1,000 calls were made from adults concerned about children's welfare in Herefordshire last year.

The figures come as NSPCC staff and trained volunteers are planning on visiting primary schools across the county through their 'Speak out Stay safe' programme.

This aims to teach every child to protect themselves from abuse and give them knowledge of where to get help.

There were 228 children in Herefordshire subject to a Child Protection Plan last year and 1,652 children in the county were considered to be in need.

The Herefordshire branch of NSPCC is celebrating 125 years of fundraising this year.

Carol Powell, Chairwoman of the Herefordshire Branch was one of three fundraisers who completed the London Marathon last year and described the figures as 'frightening'

She said: "The money will go towards the NSPCC Helpline and Speak out Stay safe service. Ninety per cent of our funding is from public donations including fundraisers and people leaving us money in their wills.

"To received 1,077 calls from the Herefordshire area to the NSPCC adult helpline in the last year is frightening really."

The Herefordshire branch was set-up in April 1892 at a public meeting in Bishop's Palace in the city.

A motion to form the branch was brought by the Hereford City Mayor not long after Queen Victoria set up the national charity in 1884.

From 1895 the branch had its own inspector, who had an office in Bath Street.

A cry of 'No cruelty here!' was sent out by the newly formed branch and in its first year 67 complaints were made with the welfare of 118 children directly involved.

The most common of these complaints was neglect and starvation, while 15 cases of 'exposure for begging purposes' were reported.

One sample case from 1893 said: "The mother and father were charged with neglecting their six children, whose ages ranged from two to 12 years.

"Evidence showed that the children had been refused admission to the Board School because their bodies were covered with dirt and their heads full of vermin and sores.

"Four of the children slept on straw."

Another case example from the same year showed that a mother had been charged with shutting her two year-old boy in a pig-sty.

By its 15th anniversary the Herefordshire branch had helped more than 14,900 children.

Now in its 125th year the Herefordshire branch of NSPCC is still fundraising and helping to raise awareness of childhood abuse.

The Herefordshire NSPCC Branch currently has nine members from across the county who organise and take part in fundraising activities.

Last year the branch raised around £9,000 on top of £4,700 raised from local London Marathon fundraisers.

Childline costs £30,000 a day to run and is available to children by ringing 08088 005000 or visit www.childline.org.

Local area co-ordinators are in the process of recruiting and training a number of volunteers to help NSPCC to deliver the 'Speak out Stay safe' programme in the West Midlands.

For more information and details how to donate visit www.nspcc.org.uk.

To find out more about the Herefordshire branch contact Carol Powell on 01873 860550 or e-mail carolpowell50@btopenworld.com.