WOMEN victims of domestic abuse will be able to stay in state-of-the-art new facilities thanks to a new refuge being built in York.

York Women's Aid, which celebrated its 30th birthday with a special event on Friday, is building the new centre so families fleeing violence can have a better place to stay.

The new refuge, which has cost about £800,000 to build, is due to finish in October after years in the planning.

It will provide:

Rooms for up to ten families, each with their own bathrooms. The current refuge only accommodates eight families, who all share two bathrooms

Full disabled access. The current refuge has none, and has not been able to take in the disabled

A 24-hour sleep-in worker. The current refuge has a 24-hour on-call worker, but many domestic violence victims feel at their most vulnerable late at night

A big living room and huge playroom

lCCTV cameras and better security.

Manager Sarah Hill said the new facilities - the location remains a secret to protect those who stay there - would be a vast improvement on the "outdated" refuge now about 15 years old.

In particular, it would mean teenagers staying there with their mothers would be able to have a room of their own.

Currently, families all share one room until they can be re-housed by the council - which usually takes up to nine months.

Sarah said: "It's a nightmare for teenage boys.

"It's very embarrassing for them."

City of York Council, the Government and Yorkshire Housing have all contributed funding for the new centre.

Information about the work of Women's Aid was on display at the event held in York to celebrate 30 years of helping domestic abuse victims in the city.

City of York MP Hugh Bayley was on hand to cut the cake, along with expert speakers in the field of domestic violence.

Mr Bayley said: "Over the years, I have referred many abused women who have come to my surgeries on to YWA. Thank goodness they are there to give support and protect women and children who are fleeing violence.

"They do a crucial job in supporting victims of this pervasive crime. I would like to congratulate staff on their achievements over the last 30 years."

:: Quarter of crime in York 'down to domestic abuse'

DOMESTIC abuse accounts for a quarter of all crime in York, according to police statistics.

But only two families currently staying at the Women's Aid centre are from North Yorkshire. Most York victims travel to other cities such as Birmingham to stay in refuges there - putting vital miles between themselves and the violent partners they fear could come after them.

Spokeswoman Sue Lonsdale said: "Common sense sometimes dictates that your own home town isn't the safest place to be.

"If you're fleeing violence, you can apply to the local authority for housing."

Women's Aid also offers outreach services to help women who have suffered abuse but prefer to stay in their own homes.

It helps out by supplying mobile phones or changing locks.

Domestic abuse can manifest itself in a variety of ways, explained Sue. "It includes mental abuse as well as physical abuse. Most women have lived with this situation for a long, long time. For a lot of women, the refuge really is the last stop."

To contact Women's Aid, phone 01904 646630.

Updated: 10:53 Monday, August 22, 2005