VICTIMS of domestic violence are to get their own refuge in North Dorset.

A redundant building at an undisclosed site is currently being converted into flats.

Up to ten women and their children can be catered for in the facility which will open next month.

Spokeswoman Kaye Clemens from Blandford St Mary said the project was coming to fruition as the result of a partnership involving Signpost and Bournemouth Churches Housing Associations and Dorset County Council.

Professional counsellor Kaye said: "Domestic violence is an abuse that happens behind closed doors that's been secret for a long time.

"But now it's becoming more high profile and the need is out there.

"Where else do these women go when you have got children and you have to flee?"

Raising the money was not difficult.

"There's nothing in North Dorset for victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence," Kaye said.

"Once we got the statistics in place people could see there's a need - it's gone really fast."

She has been working with parliamentary hopeful Barbara Gorna from Gillingham who has been instrumental in getting domestic violence on the Tory agenda.

Dorset MP and shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin was among those to attend a Westminster seminar organised by the two women.

And Kaye spoke about the issue at the Tory Party Conference in Bournemouth last week.

This is part of Barbara's ongoing campaign to have domestic violence categorised as a far more serious crime.

"Two women a week are murdered by their partners and there is no outcry about this," she said.

"Refuges are few and far between and there are 40,000 women and children traipsing round the UK up to 200 miles away from their home at any one time while the bloke is still in the flat."

The two women are writing a book on the issue - not an academic tome but one in which women speak anonymously of their own experiences.

If you would like to tell your story, call Kaye on 07970 162857.