It's not all carols, trees and lights for some children at Christmas

December means carols and Christmas songs, lights, gifts and trees for many, but we know that for some children the festive season feels very different.

- By Darren Worth Childline senior supervisor, North of England

Recent polling for the NSPCC found one in eight respondents across the country have been worried for the safety of a child during the Christmas holidays.

YouGov surveyed 4,259 adults across the UK, including 210 in the North East, where more than two thirds of local respondents said they believed children faced an increased risk of abuse (68%) and exposure to domestic violence (70%) during the Christmas holidays.