The new refuge will be one of only two in east Berkshire

The refuge in Slough will be one of only a handful in the county.

East Berkshire Women's Aid runs two hostels, housing eight families. One is in disrepair and the charity hopes to use �700,000 of the grant replacing it.

The grant is part of a nationwide �150m government hostel improvement package and also includes �120,000 for Slough Borough Council to combat homelessness.

Margaret Brownlie, from the council, said: "One of the refuges, which accommodates five families, is not in a good state of repair and the council and East Berkshire Women's Aid have been discussing a replacement hostel for some time.

"The plan is to purchase a property and do renovation work in terms of an extension and total refit to give a capacity of eight to nine units, depending on the architect's view."