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Children in need of support will be able to receive help from a new NSPCC service centre in Ipswich.

The Crown Street office will house social workers focusing on children in care, young babies and sexual abuse.

The NSPCC hopes to raise £2.5m with its Changing Young Lives Appeal to fund the centre for the next three years.

James Parnell, interim manager of the centre, said: "There's quite high levels of need in Ipswich and the surrounding area."

"By combining with our Colchester office we're able to expand our reach to Suffolk and North Essex.

"The first project is working with parents and very small children who are drug and alcohol dependent - increasing their attachment, of the parents to the child.

"We'll be working with local councils to look at children currently in care who may safely be returned to their parents.

"We'll also be working in partnership with local hospitals, with the midwives, producing a video and learning materials designed to work with parents on the dangers of shaking babies."

Gwen Pearson, NSPCC regional head of fundraising, said: "We're calling on the people of Suffolk and north Essex to really get behind the NSPCC and support our Changing Young Lives Appeal.

"Without local support we cannot provide these vital new services for children and young people in this area."