An army of Christian counsellors has started a city-centre advice service aimed at helping victims of rape and abuse.

The Abundant Life Church, in Wapping Road, Bradford, has opened the centre in a former solicitor's office at 4, James Street. It offers a range of services, including free pregnancy tests and post and pre-abortion advice.

Barbara Gaskin, who runs the centre, said the official opening was planned for next month but training was taking place for 50 advisors to allow them to help up to 500 callers a year and about 16 people a day in person.

"We haven't given it any publicity yet but have already had 20 visits and the two phone lines are often ringing at the same time," she said.

"I don't think Bradford has more specific problems than anywhere else but people don't talk to each other in the way they used to.

"People work all day and don't know their neighbours. People often just want to talk and get things off their chest. We just listen to them."

The church has been running an advice shop for seven years in Wapping Road, but members wanted a city-centre base to reach more people because demand was growing so rapidly.

The majority of inquiries in the past have been about marriage guidance and pregnancy. Girls as young as 14 have been helped.

Lara Mudd, from the church, said the congregation regarded abortion as wrong but the advice was unbiased and left the young woman to chose her best option.

Mrs Gaskin said: "We are certainly not judgmental and don't come with Bible bashing. We come with good, righteous, commonsense principles."

The advice line is (01274) 308171 and the offices are open from 10am to 3pm on Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to noon on Saturday.

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