Its 65-strong team of volunteers now gets up to 25,000 calls a year so the need for more people to help them meet the demand is urgent.

A recruitment drive has begun to find people willing to provide confidential emotional support to the people who turn to the Samaritans for that vital listening ear when they reach the depths of despair.

Three of the Lynn Samaritans already doing that are Andrew, Jackie and Gill. Andrew, a deputy director, has 11 years experience and the other two about a year each.

Andrew said Samaritans are a complete cross-section of society – young, old, men, women, working and unemployed – "and that's what we want to encourage".

Most of the problems they hear about concern life events, like bereavements and serious illness, and relationships.

Jackie said: "It's usually less the practical things and more the emotional things they want to talk about."

Gill pointed out: "I don't think we could do the job if we weren't capable of being moved by some of the things we hear."

Andrew said in most cases the Samaritans do not know the outcome of the contacts they have received and whether that person does kill him or herself, "but it's probably a good thing that we don't know".

Ideally, Lynn Samaritans would like to have a 100-strong team of volunteers so that it could offer more services and relieve the pressure on the existing members.

Andrew explained: "We did get up to 90 a few years ago which was helpful because you always have people away on holidays or off sick."

This year, the branch hopes to introduce a help desk at Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to provide support to patients, their families and friends, and hospital staff.

Would-be Samaritans do not need to have formal qualifications or any previous experience, as they all receive full training and support from the organisation.

But they do need to be aged 18 or over, non-judgemental and a good listener who can hold back from offering advice.

They also need be able to question gently and tactfully but without intruding, encourage people to tell their own story in their own time and space and always try to see the other point of view, regardless of their own beliefs.Volunteers are asked to do a minimum of one four-hour duty every week.

Once a month this must be a night duty from 10pm to 2am, and every three months an overnight duty from 2am to 6am.

The branch covers the borough of West Norfolk and some adjoining areas around Fakenham, Wisbech and the North Norfolk coast.

An entirely self-funded local charity, its running costs of about £25,000 a year are met from public donations, fundraising and some support from the Prison Service.

Vital fundraising is carried out by the Friends of the Samaritans.

"We wouldn't survive without them and over the years they have done a fantastic job.