Susan suffered domestic violence for over a decade and is now to become a volunteer at The Hope Centre.

The Preston mum-of-two says she has wanted to help others in the same situation since fleeing a violent husband five years ago.

She hopes to work in the refuge's drop-in centre, The Hope Centre, which supports, advises and empowers women.

Her own suffering was appalling. She recalled one incident during which her head was bashed against the sink. On another occasion she was punched in the face with a sovereign ring.

She said: "Violence went with the booze and it was non-logical.

"That was one of the main reasons I stayed. I could never work out why.

"It didn't make any sense, but then again the violence doesn't. At the time I had never come across it before.

"Every scar on my face he put there. I hate the idea of having scars on my face.

"My kids have a different view of it than I do.

"According to my kids I don't remember the worst incidents."

Susan was in her 40s when she eventually split with her husband, taking out an injunction with powers of arrest.

Asked how her life has changed, she beams as she talks of the countries she has since visited, her degree course and her "very good boys".

She says: "I'm happy because I'm peaceful. Nobody dares shout in this house nowadays.

"I ask myself why did I let it go on 14 years? That sort of situation needs stopping as soon as possible."

To those suffering domestic violence, she says, there are options and the situation doesn't have to stay as it is.

She added: "It actually takes two to make a situation. When one walks away there isn't a situation anymore.

"I think there are people who aren't aware of help. There are also people too embarrassed still to use services there for them.

"There are also people who probably think it stigmatises them. It doesn't, it hasn't and they shouldn't."

* Susan is a pseudonym.

Go to our special section on domestic violence