WOMEN fleeing domestic abuse will benefit from extra funding being pumped into services across the Tees Valley and County Durham.

A joint funding bid by local authorities, the two police forces, and a number of charities has secured £720,000 out of a £20m government pot of funding.

It is one of the highest settlements achieved and will fund safe emergency accommodation and support to find longer-term housing.

Emotional and practical support will also be funded, to help victims lead safe and independent lives.

Older women and those suffering with mental health illnesses, or drug and alcohol problems, will receive help under the project, and specialist accommodation and support will be funded for black and minority ethnic victims who are at risk or have experienced forced marriage or honour based violence.

The programme will be co-ordinated in a partnership between all the councils in Teesside and County Durham, Cleveland and Durham Police forces and their police and crime commissioners, and charities including Harbour, Halo, EVA Women’s Aid, My Sister’s Place, Foundation, Wear Valley Women’s Aid and Thirteen Care and Support.

The bid was submitted to Central Government to receive a share of £20 million of funding for the project, and Tees Valley and Durham have received one of the highest allocations of £720,000 which will be spent over 2017 and 2018.

Councillor Lynn Pallister, cabinet member for health and housing at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “I am delighted we have been successful in our bid for this funding to protect vulnerable domestic violence victims.

“While we do have refuges, not all of them meet the complex needs of some of the women looking for a safe place to stay.

“It is vital that the appropriate support is given to all these women, including those who are older, black and minority ethnic women, those who have mental health problems, and those suffering from alcohol or drug abuse problems.

“No victim should be turned away in their hour of need, so I am pleased to be working side by side with other local authorities and partners to ensure these victims get the help and support they need.”

More than 70 projects across the country received the Government funding, to create more than 2,200 new bed spaces in refuges and other types of accommodation.

It will support over 19,000 victims to ensure they have somewhere safe to live and rebuild their lives, and provide further access to education, employment and life skills training.

Communities secretary Sajid Javid desribed domestic abuse as a “devastating crime” which too often remained hidden.