A TEAM of kind volunteers are giving up their spare time to provide a lifeline service for people struggling to cope with the strains of the festive season and beyond.

At a hectic and expensive time of year which can bring happiness but also pressures, the seven strong team from the Inverclyde Samaritans want to remind people that they offer people a non judgemental listening ear if times are tough.

Based in Cathcart Street, the volunteers - Isabel Humphreys, Margo Campbell, Hazel O'Brien, Mel Boyland, Alex Southee, Patricia Coleman and Sandra Lafferty - between them have over 50 years of service at the charity.

They answer calls, texts, emails and letters from people about anything that is worrying them.

Isabel said: "If someone phones and says they are really down and at the end of a long conversation you ask them how they are feeling and they say that you have really helped them and they feel better, it makes you feel amazing."

Sandra added: "Quite often people say 'you don't know what you have done for me tonight."

Alex, who is the voluntary director at the branch, says it deals with calls from across the country, including from children who can remain anonymous.

She said: "We are there to listen and support.

"As well as taking calls, we also answer emails and texts.

"The Samaritans is a 24-hour service.

"We are here for everybody."

Mel added: "I think a lot of people don't contact us because they think it's for people who are suicidal but we take calls about everything and anything."

The volunteers are also very active in the local community and visit the Inverclyde Homeless Forum at St Mary's Church.

They also have a support scheme at HMP Greenock where they train inmates to become listeners within the prison.

To keep their branch open, the volunteers say they rely on fundraising.

Alex added: "We can't do this without fundraising - every branch has to support itself."

Anyone who would like to contact the Samaritans can do so by free phoning 116 123.

Alternatively, anyone who is interested in fundraising or volunteering at the Greenock branch should send an email to jo@samaritans.org