The violent histories of 32 abusive partners who live in Cheshire have been revealed using Clare's Law, latest figures show.

According to an investigation by the Press Association,  32 applications were successfully made by someone wanting to find out about a partner's previous history of domestic violence or violent acts.

Clare's Law, named after Clare Wood - who was murdered in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend - allows the police to disclose information about any history of domestic abuse.

Figures suggest 119 applications were made under Clare's Law to Cheshire Police, while 38 domestic violence protection orders were granted. 

A DVPO can be used to protect victims by preventing perpetrator from contacting them.

The Press Association discovered at least 1,335 disclosures have been made across England and Wales under the law following 3,760 applications for disclosure.

Underlining the scale of abuse across the country, other figures revealed that courts have granted 2,220 DVPOs, which can be used to protect victims by preventing perpetrator from contacting them.

Clare's Law was rolled out nationally in March last year, following a 14-month pilot in Gwent, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire and Greater Manchester, while DVPOs were launched in the same month following a one-year pilot in West Mercia, Wiltshire and Greater Manchester.

Underlining the scale of abuse across the country, other figures revealed that courts have granted 2,220 domestic violence protection orders (DVPOs), which can be used to protect victims by preventing perpetrator from contacting them.

The Press Association figures also show a wide regional variation in the likelihood of a disclosure being made under Clare's Law and MP Hazel Blears, who campaigned with Miss Wood's father to introduce the scheme, said she would write to the Home Secretary to ask what is being done to ensure best practice.

Miss Wood's father Michael Brown said he was "quietly delighted" the law is being used, but fears the already high figures are only the "tip of the iceberg". 

Mr Brown, 71, who lives with his partner near Pontefract, in West Yorkshire, said: "This is just people that are coming to the fore.

"This is only the tip of the iceberg.

"There's an awful lot of it not reported, people are frightened to come forward.

"We didn't have the lofty ambitions to do away with domestic violence, that would have been nonsensical," Mr Brown said.

"What we did was try to give ladies and gents who were in trouble another chink in their armour. I think we succeeded in that."

The retired prison officer went on: "This is just the start.

"This is what it is in just the first year, all these people know about Clare's Law, they're going to tell another five, another dozen, and next year this is going to snowball."

Miss Wood, 36, was strangled and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton at her home in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Unbeknown to Miss Wood, Appleton had a history of violence towards women and was known to prowl online dating websites and Facebook in search of partners, often using different aliases.

Appleton, from Salford, was found six days later after her death, hanged in a derelict pub.