THE number of domestic abuse victims going to the police in Lancashire has rocketed in the past decade, new figures showed.

In the last ten years, reports of abuse within the home has shot up from 6,714 to 9,111, police data released under freedom of information laws revealed.

It also showed the number of charges brought against alleged attackers has almost doubled in the same time frame, going from 2,107 in 2003/04 to 4,056 last year.

The information came to light as victims of domestic abuse were given a £750,000 hand to provide emergency accommodation for women and children fleeing violence.

County council bosses, working with the 12 district authorities, united to secure the second largest handout nationally from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) towards tackling the aftermath of relationship breakdowns.

With the extra spending powers, nearly 300 more beds can be offered within refuges or safe houses countywide and there plans to offer more intensive support for the worst affected cases.

County councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “We’re extremely proud to have led on this countywide bid for services to support some of the most vulnerable members in our society.

“Joint working in Lancashire is very strong, as this unified approach shows, and clearly the DCLG were impressed by the level of collaboration and shared information which went into our bid.

“This represents a significant increase in the county’s funding for domestic violence.”

Domestic abuse can take many forms, ranging from sexual and physical intimidation to emotional, verbal and even financial oppression, between either intimate partners or family members.

Earlier this year, the parents of murdered East Lancashire nurse Jane Clough called for more employers to help staff who suffer at the hands of a close one.

John Clough, whose 26-year-old daughter was stabbed 71 times by her ex-partner Jonathan Vass as she walked into work at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2010, said: "Jane paid the ultimate price for domestic abuse and was one of the two women a week who are murdered by a partner or ex-partner in a domestic abuse situation.

“We lost someone very special to us and it is now our mission to help people avoid going through what she did and the legacy that left for her family."

Those who believe they are currently suffering from such abuse are urged to call a free national 24-hour helpline on 0808 2000 247 or alternatively, go online to women said.org.uk.