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There's a record number of boys calling up a helpline to get counselling.

ChildLine says more than 58,000 rang them with problems such as bullying, sexual abuse and loneliness.

That's more than double the number compared with five years ago.

Sue Minto from the charity says they still get more girls calling, but only because boys let problems drag on.

"The message we're getting is that boys leave it until they're in crisis point before they ring us," she said.

"They find it very difficult to speak to people. A large percentage of them are telling us that before ringing ChildLine that they had spoken to no one about their problems.

"Particularly, they're not turning to their dads. We really think parents, teachers and friends need to reach out to these boys to help them to find the space and find the words."

Bullying was the top problem with 12,568 calls in the 2007/8 period.

The phone line also received 6,403 calls about physical abuse, 4,780 about sexual abuse and 1,803 calls from boys saying they had been raped.

ChildLine was launched in 1986 to give youngsters a confidential helpline to call if they needed help or advice.

Calls from those feeling lonely, sad and isolated also increased from 334 five years ago to 1,817.

Those boys who called ChildLine about sexual or physical abuse most commonly named a parent as the person who was doing it.

The number normally gets more calls from girls but that's changing with one in three now coming from boys compared with one in five in 2003/04.

Examples of the calls received include a 14-year-old boy who said: "My dad hits me with a belt as punishment. This happens once or twice a month and leaves marks for days."

A 17-year-old told ChildLine: "I was sexually abused by a relative when I was a child. I have very vivid memories of being raped. I still feel angry that it ever happened."