THE work of a vital service for victims of domestic violence in Ilkley is under threat because of a funding crisis.

Domestic Violence Services (Keighley) is facing a cut in funds while demand for its services is growing. According to Ilkley and Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer the service is getting an increasing number of referrals from Ilkley.

Although the rise could be the effect of an improvement in the way police deal with incidents, it shows that domestic violence is a crime not confined to deprived, inner city areas and problem estates; it cuts right across the class divide.

Mrs Cryer, a well-known advocate of women's rights, said: "There has been an increase in the number of referrals from Ilkley to the Keighley Domestic Violence service. People think it is something confined to Keighley but it isn't.

"They are about to run out of funding at the end of March and it is absolutely crucial. Keighley Domestic Violence Service is fully used by all classes."

Mrs Cryer said that attitudes which bred domestic violence began with children at school.

"Boys think girls are rubbish and they are superior. It feeds through into adult life and marriage," said Mrs Cryer.

Ilkley police boss Sergeant Esther Hobbs agreed with Mrs Cryer that better off families were not immune to domestic violence.

Sgt Hobbs said: "I think what has happened over the years is that the police are getting better and better at dealing with it. We refer them to these agencies and we are doing that more and more. There is always going to be domestic violence in all walks of life.

"Now we will always take positive action if we can and we like to solve the problem long term. There are groups we can refer people too such as alcohol, drugs and anger management.

"There are now domestic violence units within the police to promote an inter-agency approach to domestic violence.

"Couples can fall out over anything - stress and anxiety affect everybody - people have stressful lives and sometimes they take it out on the person closest to them."

Diana Reed, of the Domestic Violence service, said: "Unfortunately, domestic violence does cut across any boundaries, including class and income, and we have had clients in Ilkley for a number of years."

But the service is due to receive a double blow this month when funding for two projects comes to end.

The Home Office funded 'Staying Put' pilot project which offered home-based support to women, and the Asian women's support service, will both run out of money. Bradford Council is looking for ways to make up the shortfall.

Ms Reed said: "There is a lot of support for the service so we can continue, but it does make it difficult to plan ahead when you are continually looking around for funding."

Bradford Council is hoping to step in and offer its own help to the victims of domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Strategy which was launched on Tuesday this week was set up by representatives from the police, child protection officers, health workers and the probation service.

Councillor Kris Hopkins, who is executive member for community on Bradford Council (Con, Worth Valley) said: "The Domestic Violence Partnership has worked very hard on the strategy which aims to make services for victims more widely available and ensure they are funded adequately."

A spokesman for the council said that the two-year strategy aimed to make a contribution to tackling the problem by bringing agencies together to share resources and expertise and to improve the co-ordination of services to vulnerable women and children.