A DOMESTIC violence support group is planning to extend its work - and is calling on victims to help out.

Behind Closed Doors, which covers Otley and Aireborough, wants to extend its helpline and eventually set up a local drop-in centre.

It has launched an appeal for people to help run the helpline and a researcher is looking into the extent of the problem in the area to make the group more efficient.

A spokeswoman for Behind Closed Doors said domestic violence could be both physical and mental.

"If women feel that a man or partner is treating them badly or unfairly either physically, emotionally, sexually or financially, they are experiencing domestic violence.

"If someone is forever told they can't have any money, that they can't make their own friends, that they're fat and they can't cook, that's mental abuse."

And she added violence in the home was not restricted to cities.

"Domestic violence is a problem which is normally associated with cities and disadvantaged people, but research has shown that one in four women experience domestic violence at some time in their lives.

"This means that more than 6,000 women in the Otley and Aireborough district will have experienced violence from men they know."

The group is hoping victims will get in touch and talk about their experiences.

But they accept for many with low self-esteem as a result of domestic violence, it can be a big step to take.

"I would urge them to get in touch with us. It can be difficult in a small town where everyone talks to everyone else, but we can offer someone to talk to. We won't tell them what to do, but we will offer advice and sometimes it's just having someone to talk to."

She added the aim was to set up a drop-in centre local to the area where women could talk in person to someone from the group.

"For some women with no confidence it would be difficult for them to even catch a bus and go into Leeds or Bradford.

"Our aim is to develop a drop-in centre for women to meet and share their experiences of domestic violence and receive emotional and practical support."

Meanwhile, the group is appealing for people to give up a couple of hours every week to run the helpline.

At the moment, it is run for just two hours every week with an answering phone service at all other times.

The spokeswoman said: "We know we're getting calls at other times but until we get the results of our research, we won't know how much we need to extend it.

"We are looking for volunteers who preferably have some experience of helplines or counselling. We will give training and although we would prefer people with previous experience."

l Anyone who would like to take part in the research or who would like to volunteer to help run the telephone helpline should call (01943) 850555.