DEPRESSED and lonely children and teenagers can now text the Samaritans for help under a new trial scheme.

The Samaritans say the service is aimed at those people who prefer not to speak to someone and they are guaranteed a reply within one hour.

The text number, charged at normal rates, is being trialled throughout the country until the end of this month.

The service has been introduced to make the Samaritans more accessible.

Figures that show one fifth of calls and emails to the Bolton branch are from suicidal people.

A spokeswoman said: "The new text message system is an important asset to our service.

"It caters for the new 'text generation' of children and teenagers and gives them the chance to speak out anonymously about their problems."

The text message service is the next technological step forward for the Samaritans following the introduction of an email help address five years ago.

Samaritans have also revealed that people in America are contacting the Bolton office.

The desperate calls for help are coming from thousands of miles away straight to the Bolton office of the Samaritans.

Volunteers say around 30 per cent of all emails now originate from America with a few from as far afield as Japan.

They say it is because in many states in the USA suicide is still illegal, and there is no Samaritans or similar service.

During the Christmas period calls and emails to the Bolton office soared as depressed and lonely people sought support.

Dedicated volunteers took more than 300 calls during the festive period.

The text message number is 07725909090.

Alternatively, ring the Bolton branch on 01204 521200 or email sam@boltonsamaritans.org.uk or jo@samaritans.org