CHILDREN and family services in Inverclyde are experiencing an 'unprecedented' increase in demand due to the pandemic.

Health and social care bosses have notified the integrated joint board that services are facing huge pressure.

There has been a significant increase in family breakdowns during the Covid-19 crisis, with an increase in referrals from the children's hearing system.

A report to the board said: "Workloads within the service have increased.

"Services have been responding to an increased level of risk and complexity, and additional staff have been brought in to support this."