More than £250,000 has been given to a Cornish charity that helps men suffering domestic violence.

The Esteem website was set up by the Cornwall Women’s Refuge Trust, which said it had supported about 300 men in the last few years.

The Big Lottery Fund has awarded the charity £261,213 to extend the work it does.

Esteem said two out of five victims of domestic abuse were men, with the most prevalent age group being 25-34.

Ken Wilkins, a support worker from the Esteem project, said: “The money will be spent on consolidating the services we already give to men across the county.

“We’re also going to be working with the Big Lottery funding to investigate the feasibility for starting a refuge for men within Cornwall, but it is very much in its infancy.”

There are currently 7,500 refuge beds in the country for women and 60 for male victims.

To find out more about the project visit www.esteemmen.co.uk or see an interview on the BBC by clicking here now.