Domestic abuse is a hidden epidemic plaguing society, according to a British Medical Association survey.

More than 840 cases are reported to police each month in Bradford alone.

But experts fear that the figure is only the tip of the iceberg as the vast majority of domestic abuse cases go unreported.

Anne (not her real name) is one of those who have found the courage to take action and leave behind her abusive relationship.

She and her two daughters are now living in a refuge for women and children in Bradford, run by the charity Women's Aid.

Anne endured years of violence and intimidation from her former partner before she was able to escape.

She said: "I finally got to the point where I had to leave. I was getting a lot of abuse, both physical and mental from the girl's father.

"Then I found out he was already married and that he was trying to arrange a marriage for my 16-year-old daughter.

"My daughters saw a lot of violence and abuse and it's had a major effect on them. My youngest is having to have counselling.

"Taking the first step is the hardest thing: people always say, Just leave him,' but it's not that simple. I called the police on a few occasions but they wouldn't take my partner away.

"I couldn't tell them everything that had happened because he was there when they were talking to me. If I questioned him or challenged him he used to hit me for showing disrespect.

"I took abuse of varying forms for 15 years from two partners. People asked why I put up with it but they took my independence and self-esteem away. It was all about control.

"I didn't know safe houses and refuges existed. Half of the women in here only know about them from social services. There needs to be more awareness and information available."

Anne and her daughters now live in the refuge with six other families. The staff there are excellent, she said, but the situation is far from ideal.

"We live in one room - the girls have bunk beds and I have a single bed," she said. "We have a mini-fridge and a sink and a portable telly. Everything else is shared with the other residents.

"We've been there six months now and I have tried time and time again to find a house but it keeps falling through. I've been told it can take up to nine months to be re-housed.

"We can't keep living like this. My oldest daughter, especially, needs her own space. But she can't leave the refuge for fear her father will abduct her or find out where we are. We're all cooped up in there all day, every day.

"The staff are brilliant but there's only so much they can do. They are seriously short of funding.

"The most important things now are to make sure my daughters are okay, get re-housed and then I want to go to college. I want to study to be a social worker and help other women in the same situation."

Anyone who has been similarly affected, or wants advice on a similar issue, can contact Bradford Women's Aid on (01274) 660052.