WARRINGTON Domestic Violence Forum has received funding of £102,000 to enable it to re-open its Support Centre, which closed in December through lack of cash.

The life-line has come from the Warrington Health Partnership.

Kirsty Herriman, counselling co-ordinator, said : "We are absolutely thrilled that we can re-open and provide a service, but we are still seeking further funding."

The Health Partnership grant means that a full time centre manager and a part time administrator can be appointed, for three years.

Kirsty said that this did not allow cash for any further needs, such as stationery and phone bills, or provide for the centre to continue for more than three years.

"The funding is a brilliant start, but we still have an ongoing campaign", said Kirsty. The forum is continuining to seek funding from a range of sources, but would like the centre to be taken on permanently by a statutory body.

After the centre closed, domestic violence victims were being turned away at the rate of at least 12 a week.

Campaigners to get it re-opened collected more than 1,000 signatures, which were presented to the borough council. Plans are now under way to re-open the centre, in Palmyra Square, in July. In the meantime, the Forum is appealing for volunteer counsellors and other support workers to come forward.