INSPIRED by her own experiences, Benidorm actress Crissy Rock joined survivors of domestic abuse to film a hard-hitting video in Darlington this week.

Married at just 16, the television star – who also appeared in I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here – spent more than eight years with a violent partner.

Since fleeing her abuser with “nothing more than the clothes I was standing in”, Ms Rock has devoted much of her life to campaigning against domestic violence.

On Wednesday, December 2, she joined North-East survivors and filmmakers Amy Pink and Martin Owen-Cairns to create Violence Breeds Violence.

The short film uses actors and crew from the region to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the impact it can have on children.

Ms Rock said: “I was a battered wife and spent a long time waiting for the penny to drop before realising that.

“They wear you down mentally, verbally and physically until you feel like you can’t go anywhere or do anything without them.

“When you’re at home, you’re supposed to be safe but more violence happens in the kitchen than anywhere.

“It was horrendous - I walked away from my marriage one day with nothing more than the clothes I was standing in. I would never want anyone to feel the way I did.

“I wish people would stop fighting in front of their children. If they think it is normal at a young age, they will think it as adults.

“The effect of that sticks with them and it becomes a cycle. I hope this will get the message over to what could be the next generation of battered girls or boys.”

Director Martin Owen-Cairns, who also comes from a background of domestic abuse, said: ““We want to raise awareness of what can go on behind closed doors.

“I hope this project helps others to recognise the signs and be more aware of what’s going on.”

Since being brutally beaten by her high-risk offender and ex-championship boxer former partner, co-director Amy Pink has worked to help others cope with the impact of abuse.

The Sunderland woman said: “I hope this film generates a different message so that we can stop just pointing fingers and blaming people and start educating them and making changes.

“Children should be taught about domestic violence in schools and I’d like to get this shown as widely as we can.”

The film was shot at the Marshall Photography studio in Darlington.