Women in Bradford are so desperate to flee domestic violence they have inundated a new helpline within weeks of its opening.

The Staying Put project, based in the city centre, has seen 112 referrals in just 14 weeks and the figures look set to grow.

Three workers, including an Asian and a legal support worker, have been employed to help women try to find a life away from domestic violence without having to leave the family home.

And another Asian worker is being sought to help cope with the demand.

Jane Liddell, project co-ordinator, said most people were responding to advertisements or being referred by police.

The service offers help and advice with practical issues such as improving home security, lighting and locks, even providing free mobile phones to women living in fear.

The problem is worst in the southern part of the city.

Ms Liddell said: "Our aim is to help women and this may be by fortifying their home security. Or it could be that if the danger is too much, they do have to move into a refuge. We offer help so women can assess the level of danger they face."

Ms Liddell said there were pieces of legislation in place to protect women from domestic violence and that legal support workers were on hand if injunctions had to be taken out against violent men.

But Ms Liddell also stressed the WORTH programme aims to help perpetrators and treat them with anger management.

Asian women too have been using the service.

Black women's support worker Anila Ansari said normally Asian women did not access mainstream services.

"Thirty-five per cent of women using the service are Asian, which is a high number. Either Asian women are becoming more aware of their plight or domestic violence is becoming too common."

Keighley MP Ann Cryer, who has spoken extensively on the issue of forced marriage and intercontinental marriage, said that in the main marriages were happy and successful but some women, especially from overseas, needed help with accessing information.

"There are too many women who are brought here and treated as domestic servants. Often they suffer domestic violence from in-laws, not just the husband."