BARNARDO'S is calling on the Government to do more to protect children as it launches a report on domestic violence.

The children's charity believes youngsters suffer long-lasting emotional damage from witnessing violence between adults in the home.

The report, Bitter Legacy, highlights the plight of children who regularly see adult violence, and draws on the work of Barnardo's projects across the country, including the Bridgeway Project in Middlesbrough.

The scheme works with children affected by sexual abuse, including those who have been sexually abused and those who display sexually problematic behaviour.

It offers one-to-one help to enable children and their carers to make sense of the abusive behaviour that has taken place.

It found that 85 per cent of the children had witnessed or been involved in episodes of domestic violence between adults at home.

Judith Moller, assistant director of children's services for Barnardo's in the North-East, said: "Through our work in the region, we know domestic violence is extremely widespread. It has different effects on children depending on the intensity of the violence, the children's ages and other factors, but the effects last well into adulthood.

"Victims are predominantly women and children, and every day we see the negative impact of violence in the home on children's well-being, health and confidence."

She said: "Through our work with children we need to promote positive male/female relationships from a very early age. The message needs to be clear that domestic violence is totally unacceptable."

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has said the Government would respond to the report as part of a Green Paper on Children at Risk, due to be published in the spring