NSPCC has reported an eight-fold increase in users of its online helpdesk for suspected child abuse following a major website revamp.

In the month following the launch on 28 May, its helpline dealt with 209 online reports from people worried about a child, up from a previous monthly average of 25.

All of these reports ended up with a referral to a local authority children’s service or the police.

NSPCC digital communications manager Stephanie Hughes said: “A key objective of the NSPCC website refresh was to provide people with engaging content and ensure they could find what they were looking for with fewer clicks.

“To make the helpline easily accessible to all audiences we’ve placed prominent ‘report a concern’ links and helpline promotional units in the right hand column throughout the site, plus an NSPCC Helpline hero banner on the homepage.”

She added: “It’s important that people feel confident about reporting abuse, and that they are doing the right thing by contacting the NSPCC Helpline.

“To provide this reassurance all the helpline pages feature clear, concise copy about how the service works and what happens when you report a concern.”