A THOUGHT-provoking exhibition exploring the issue of domestic violence has opened at Worcester Cathedral.

Called Breaking Free it takes an in-depth look at women's experiences, charts the difficulties they face and their hopes for the future.

It has been organised by Worcester and Malvern Women's Aid and is supported by the Safer Worcester Partnership.

Both groups say that domestic violence in the county is a real issue and one that must be given a high profile if it is to be tackled effectively.

"Home Office specialists estimate that by the time they become known to the police, most women have been assaulted 30 times," said Lyssa, a spokeswoman for the Women's Aid group.

"Leaving the perpetrator, or even talking about the abuse, takes immense courage. Women and their children often suffer in silence. This exhibition not only shows how the violence affects women's lives, but also how they can find help and support to positively face the future."

The free exhibition will be in the Cloisters at the Cathedral until Sunday, April 14.

Breaking Free is a national touring exhibition produced by Inter-Action in partnership with Milton Keynes Women's Aid Asian Project Ithmenan. The exhibition was created by photographer, Liza Hamlyn who spent two months at a Women's Refuge in Southern England.

Worcester and Malvern Women's Aid work locally to offer support, advice and refuge to women and their children experiencing domestic abuse. They run a free, 24-hour helpline for women on 0800 980 2946. The Women's Aid national helpline is on 0845 702 3468.

n Domestic violence is a crime that affects a quarter of all women in Britain at some time in their lives. It accounted for almost half of all incidents reported by women to the British Crime Survey in 1996.

Each year, 45 per cent of female homicide victims are killed by a present or former partner (two women a week in England and Wales alone).