Samaritans in Bradford have been inundated with calls as Blue Monday' lived up to its reputation as the most depressing day of the year.

Volunteers at the Bradford branch of the Samaritans said their phones did not stop ringing from 8am when the office opened.

Sue Harrison, director of the Bradford branch of the Samaritans, said: "It was particularly busy yesterday which surprised us because it was a nice sunny day and good weather usually means people are happier.

"Mondays are usually a bad day because it's the start to the week. Volunteers said their phones were ringing constantly from the beginning to the end of the day."

She said the types of calls they received were not unusual ones.

"People were ringing in with problems like debt, relationship problems and feeling miserable after Christmas," said Mrs Harrison.

Blue Monday was first designated by Cardiff University psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall who came up with an equation to calculate the worst day of the year.

He worked out we are most likely to get the blues in the final full week of January because of the combination of bad weather, Christmas debts and broken New Year's resolutions.

Mrs Harrison said the surge in calls could also be down to the fact that Blue Monday had received a lot of publicity.

She said: "When you highlight emotional stresses and support networks you do get a surge in calls because people are more aware of the fact that there is help out there for them.

"People aren't always aware of the services available and that means that when they are highlighted more people may call more than usual."

Despite witnessing a surge in calls for help yesterday Britain has been listed as a nation of optimists, according to new research.

The poll found 85 per cent of Britons expect to be happier in the future than they are now.

The Scottish were the most optimistic, closely followed by the Irish, then people in the South West with Yorkshire rated as the fourth happiest region.

People in the West Midlands had the least positive outlook on life, with London and the South East making up the bottom three, the study by Standard Life Bank found.

The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on (01274) 547547.

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