Eastleigh mayor Councillor Gillian Connell and Romsey MP Sandra Gidley helped Parentline Plus recruit volunteers for its helpline when they dropped into the charity's Eastleigh headquarters.

Parentline Plus is a national charity providing help and support for parents and carers through a range of services.

A coffee morning at the Eastleigh HQ for Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight was aimed at netting volunteers to work as call-takers on the 24-hour free helpline.

Last year the helpline received almost 280,000 calls from parents. But besides enlisting more help, area manager for Parentline Plus Eastleigh, Lorraine Tate, said the event at Wessex House in Upper Market Street was also aimed at highlighting the fact that the charity was providing parenting classes.

Councillor Connell said she was very proud that the Parentline Plus operation was based in Eastleigh.

She said: "I think it is absolutely wonderful - I wish it had been around when I had my first child. Parenting is such a difficult job and so many people think they are completely on their own, but they need not be with something like this.

"Working at a college, I see the problems that teenagers and parents with teenagers face. There are huge pressures on young people plus media and advertising pressure on parents to be perfect. People feel a failure if they feel they are not getting it right."

Mrs Gidley - whose constituency includes Chandler's Ford - said the helpline was a good idea because nowadays many people were unable to live close to their families.

"It is filling a much-needed gap," she added.

To find out more about becoming a helpline volunteer contact the office on 023 8061 9826.

The confidential helpline number is 0808 800 2222.