He's best known for playing the bungling British agent who was urged to "Listen very carefully, I will say this only once" in the TV comedy 'Allo 'Allo.

Now actor Arthur Bostrom has taken on a whole new role as a Samaritans' volunteer.

Arthur, from Brighton, is one of a team of 129 'listening' volunteers who man the phone lines at the Brighton, Hove and District branch of the Samaritans.

The actor became patron of the charity's local branch earlier this year, then decided he wanted a more hands-on role. He became a volunteer in April after undergoing preparation and training.

Now he spends 12 hours a month at the Samaritans' base in Clarendon Road, Hove, taking calls and offering support to despairing and often suicidal callers by listening to their problems.

The phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and organisers are anxious to recruit more volunteers like Arthur to cope with a growing number of calls.

Brighton has one of the highest suicide rates in the country and last year the Samaritans received 44,165 telephone calls and 476 visits at the branch, an average of 122 cries for help each day.

The charity is looking for both 'listening' volunteers, aged 17 to 70, to answer calls, and associate volunteers who prefer to help with fund-raising. The branch needs 25 more Samaritans and a training programme starts next month for people interested in becoming listeners.

Arthur said: "I started to attend a lot of fund-raising events for the Samaritans, and got to know a few of the people.

"I wanted to do some voluntary work in Brighton and the more I got to know about the Samaritans, the more I thought it was for me.

"It was nerve-racking when I took my first call. You have extensive preparation, you are not just let loose on the phones on your own. But in the end it is one-to-one, you and the other person on the end of the phone. You never know quite what to expect, each call is different.

"It is all about listening, we are not trying to provide any answers, but it can help people to talk to someone else. In my limited experience several callers have said 'thank you, that has really helped' and it is nice to feel you have made a difference."

Arthur, who played the part of Crabtree in 'Allo 'Allo for nine years, has recently finished a run in a play in Reading. He said being a Samaritan was very different, but had enriched his life.

Samaritans' confidential service is growing rapidly. Two people in the UK attempt suicide every 15 minutes and every 90 minutes, one will be successful.

Last year, Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans received more calls than ever and, for the first time, more calls came from men than women.

Janet Thompson, press officer for the branch, said one reason for the high suicide rate in Brighton and Hove was the large transient population.

She said: "People come here to the sea, thinking it will solve their problems, when it doesn't.

"Society has changed and there isn't the same extended family network for many people. They do not always have someone they can talk to."

The Samaritans are pleased that more men are opening up and calling them, but are particularly anxious to reach young men aged between 15 and 24, the group which has shown the highest increase in suicides.

With GCSE and A- level exam results due out soon, they are urging youngsters not get distressed over results and to call if they need someone to talk to.

Janet said: "Lads and young men are not used to talking about their feelings."We want to get through to them and let them know the Samaritans are here for all age groups. Maybe the Samaritans have a rather fuddy-duddy image, but we are overcoming that."

The branch is run by volunteers and relies on fund-raising to meet its running costs of £63 a day.

It recently launched a year-long appeal and hopes local businesses and individuals will support its work by donating or raising the running costs of a day, or more.

One local Samaritan used the charity as a caller herself before later training as a volunteer. For her, it is impossible to put a value on the service.

The volunteer, who did not want to be named, said: "I called the Samaritans when my marriage broke up. It was extremely painful and at the time it helped to have someone to talk to who wasn't judging me and didn't try to give advice.

"They just listened. You wouldn't think that would make a big difference, but it did. It sounds dramatic, but I might not have survived if I hadn't had the Samaritans."

If you are interested in volunteering, or want to talk to the Samaritans, ring 01273 772277 or visit www. samaritans.org/brighton/