MANY of us would find it hard, if not impossible, to understand how a young woman, repeatedly beaten and kicked to within an inch of her life, can say she stayed with her violent husband for a decade because she idolised and love him.

But for over 2,000 women in Halton who report incidents of domestic violence every year, this story may be sadly familiar which is why leading authorities in the borough have joined forces in an effort to let people know about the problem but more importantly, to say that help is available.

Karens story is a brutal one one of physical and mental hurt, of regrets and anger but ultimately, one of hope and the future.

Karen, now 27, was just 16 when she met her future husband.

Married a year later and with a baby, Karen says the violence started when her husband was released from a prison sentence.

She says: Things were fine at first when he came out but the beatings started soon after.

The first time it happens youre scared and shocked and as it goes on, you cry and beg them to stop.

I used to cower and flinch when he walked past me but he used to tell me that crying was a sign of weakness.

Karen says the beatings gradually got worse and worse, that they moved on from punches to kicks, that he stabbed her in the hand with a tin opener and even smashed her head against the wall.

He tried to strangle me in the living room but I put up a struggle.

Later he said he would have stopped when I passed out.

After hed given me a hiding, Karen continues, I would be lying in bed the next morning facing the opposite way from him and he would wake me up.

Id turn over and hed see what hed done and be sorry.

Karen says she tried to leave a couple of times but always went back to him.

I idolised him, she explains.

I would have done anything for him and I wished things could be different.

But things werent different and reached a shocking peak just last year that left Karen with permanent nerve damage to her eye.

She recalls: I was leaving my parents house along with my child when he came walking down the path. I was shocked to see him but told him to come in.

He had what looked like a Stanley knife and was flicking it in and out of its cover. He kicked me round the body and kicked me in the head, just missing my eye.

Karen said: The blood was everywhere and I was frightened but I just remember lying there and thinking why?

I ran out of the house to my dad who was in the car and we set off to the hospital but I didnt think I was going to make it so we had to stop at a house on the way and ask them for help and to call an ambulance.

Karen was rushed to hospital where they told here she had been very lucky and had the blow landed on the side of her temple, she could have been killed.

Despite this terrible assault, Karen still couldnt bring herself to press charges - until one day her husband head butted her in public. It was the final straw for her.

Social Services, Halton Womens Aid and the police are now all helping her to get through her ordeal.

She says: At first when you try to get help, you feel like everyones shouting at you and you feel pushed around but now that I am getting myself back together, I can see that it was the best thing.

Karen spends most of her time at the Refuge run by Haltons Womens Aid and says that the staff there have helped her tremendously, encouraging her to talk about her experiences whenever she wants to and offering help and advice.

Help is also available from the staff of Halton Borough Councils Social Services department, which has a dedicated Domestic Violence Coordinator, and from the local police force, again through their domestic violence officers.

If you are experiencing domestic violence or know of someone who is, get help now.Ring any of these numbers in confidence.

Halton Womens Aid 0151 495 2778; Warrington Support Centre 01925 244245; St Helens Womens Aid 01744 454438; Male Help line 01744 454290.