Of the hundreds of women who experience rape or sexual assault in Darlington and County Durham each year, only two per cent report their ordeal to the police.

Lynne Hinde, administrator of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre, says there are a number of reasons why that is so.

A woman may have been assaulted by her partner or a family member and might feel she does not want to cause trouble for them.

On the other hand, they become concerned that they will not be believed, and there is also anxiety about police procedures.

It is in these situations that counselling can prove vital to women who have been raped or abused.

The Darlington-based Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre receives over 300 calls every year from women, and some men, who have been the victims of a sexually-related crime.

But volunteers who work at the counselling centre never use the word victim when dealing with abused men and women. They prefer to call them survivors. Lynne explained: "We do not want them to feel they are the life-long victims of a crime of rape or sexual abuse.

"Their experience can have a long-lasting emotional and physical impacts on their personal lives. But with the right kind of support, the feelings women have about themselves can fade, change and heal."

The counselling centre provides two kinds of support to women who contact the seven volunteers working there.

Some women prefer listening support, which involves a telephone conversation.

Others, might seek more formal counselling support through face-to-face interviews.

"We try to help the person get a clear insight into themselves and encourage them to find solutions to the feelings they have," said Lynne.

"By being raped or sexually abused, they have had something taken from them which they haven't chosen to give up.

"That can promote strong feelings of loss, and we try to show them that they are still in control.

"It is not about sex, but violence, and society has to accept that kind of violence is just not acceptable."

The counselling centre relies on financial donations for its work.

It is seeking funding to widen its services, particularly in the north of the county.

Any businesses or individuals who would like to help can contact Lynne on the centre's business number, which is (01325) 354119.

Anyone who has experienced a sexual assault or abuse and would like to talk to a trained counsellor can call the support line on (01325) 369933.

The line is manned from 6.30pm to 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Outside those hours there is a confidential answering service.