ERIC Kent is a man on a mission with his work for children's charity ChildLine.

The Stourport man's work involves organising events including teddy bear celebrity auctions, fire-walking contests, bike rides and abseiling - and he loves every minute of it.

Mr Kent, who hung up his helmet as a Kidderminster Police sergeant two years ago, is also a talented cartoonist in his spare time.

However, his work for the charity is now his main focus of attention.

He said: "When I left the police the opportunity arose to join ChildLine and I had no hesitation.

"While I was in the force I felt an empathy for youngsters, sometimes I feel they get a bit of a raw deal and need someone to talk to.

"This is obviously the case with those who get in touch with ChildLine."

The 53-year-old, of Lime Tree Walk, added: "ChildLine really is a brilliant charity but it doesn't get the recognition it truly deserves.

"All of the staff I work with put in a tremendous amount of effort but we could still do with so much more help.

"For example, the West Midlands office takes 1,500 calls a day but we only have enough councillors to answer 500 of them.

"While I am not one of the trained councillors myself, I think about some of the calls we miss and wonder what kind of a state that child is in. This is why my fund-raising role is so important to me, as the more money we raise enables more councillors to be trained."

Upton-on-Severn-born Mr Kent, whose work is based at ChildLine's West Midlands office in Kidderminster, said: "I really do feel privileged to have my job.

"Every day is enjoyable as there is always the motivation that when I am arranging fund-raising events, each one of them is helping vulnerable children."

Aside from ChildLine, the cartoonist has had caricatures published in national books and magazines including Golf Monthly and a book about forensic science.

He said: "I often get calls from people in the police force asking me to draw caricatures as farewell presents for people.

"I have been interested in drawing since my time when I was training with the police cadets, although please don't ask me to draw people sitting on motorbikes as I find it almost impossible!"

His work helping others doesn't end there though, as Mr Kent also helps his wife, Shauna, as a classroom assistant at some of the dyslexia classes she runs at Kidderminster's Harry Cheshire High School.

Mr Kent's other main hobby is reading, especially thriller and travel books.

He said: "When I do get some time to relax, I enjoy a good read.

"My work is great but I do appreciate the time I get to unwind."