MORE than 1,800 mums, dads and carers from Worcestershire have called a helpline for parents in the last six months.

National charity Parentline Plus revealed 80 per cent of parents were too scared to talk about problems they were facing, prompting Talking Families Week which runs until Sunday.

A high percentage of Worcester parents who called the Parentline Plus free helpline said they found it difficult talking about family problems to their partner or ex-partner.

They admitted feeling confused, isolated and unsupported.

An in-depth analysis of 110 cases showed 81 per cent of callers said the lack of confidence in communication was a factor in the problems they had with their children's behaviour.

Dorit Braun, chief executive of Parentline Plus, said the research showed callers expressed a strong sense of powerlessness.

"Looking at the findings, it becomes abundantly clear that it is not possible to separate children's needs from the needs of their families," she said.

"The behavioural difficulties of the children in this study were sometimes serious and the parents who rang us were very concerned to support their child.

"But sometimes they needed support to do this."

Talking Families Week, supported by BT, aims to encourage families to talk and see asking for help as a sign of strength.

Linda Dowell, projects manager at BT's social policy unit said she hoped to encourage good communication in families.

"It is important to help parents and improve the health and well-being of children across the UK," she said.