"THEY haven't just lost that person, they have lost their future to a certain extent."

Bernadette Keane explains just what the family and friends of a murder victim have to come to terms with following their loved one's death.

The 49-year-old runs free specialist counselling sessions throughout Cheshire from her Woolston home for families that have been affected by murder.

She first came up the idea after being approached by a mother whose daughter had been murdered and was seeking professional counselling.

"I contacted the police to see if the service was free and discovered there wasn't anything specifically for the families of muder victims. People who have been through this trauma should not have to pay for a counselling service. There isn't anything available in the north west and there really should be," she said.

So last year she set up the free confidential counselling service along with five fellow counsellors and so far they have had three referrals from Cheshire Police.

Mrs Keane, a qualified counsellor for 12 years, continued: "Everybody deals with grief in a different way and for some people there might not be the right time to talk about their feelings. Some need that support soon after the incident happens."

"There is a difficulty sometimes explaining to people around them just how they feel, the sheer loss of losing your child in this way. The people who have lost their family member do not want them to be forgotten.That is why counselling is so important because it is time for them to say it how it is."

The service offers unique and speedy access to counselling, with a response in less than two days, followed by a counselling assessment within five days, far quicker than seeking treatment through the NHS, which Mrs Keane says could take up to three months.

The service provides help for as long as it is required, including up to and after court cases.

She added: "The court case is obviously very traumatic for every family involved and we are there to support the family if they need and want that support. Some families find it too emotional to attend the court hearing, it is something they do not want to have to face."

Counselling is also available to families whose loved one was murdered many years ago, but who never received counselling at the time.

The long term aim for the service is to make it a charity organisation, as it currently receives no funding.

The counsellors are looking for both funding and a room where they can run sessions from.

"People have responded particularly well and really seem to appreciate that there is a service available," she concluded.

To find out more about the service or to offer the group a space to use for sessions call 498008.