CHILDREN'S charity Childline has been inundated with calls following a BEN story which revealed a fund-raising scam.

Childline officials are concerned about conmen who target Bolton's pubs and clubs selling roses and claiming to be from the charity.

The money has been lining the pockets of the tricksters and not a penny has reached Childline.

But following Monday's story, Childline director William Kidd and police officers have received tip-offs and information about the rose sellers.

Mr Kidd said: "We have received information about people who are involved, in some way, in the scam.

"Many of the callers were concerned that they had been ripped off and that the charity did not receive the money."

Mr Kidd said many people had vowed to send Childline a donation after learning that the charity did not receive their money paid for the roses.

"People have been very kind indeed," he added.

"They have obviously been upset to learn that the money they thought they were donating to charity was not going there at all," he added.

Mr Kidd is still looking for further information and he can be contacted on 0161-834-9945.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.