The number of calls to the charity's helpline has doubled

The Cornwall Women's Refuge Trust says it is facing a �50,000 shortfall in its annual budget.

The charity also needs more volunteer workers.

The refuge, which is in a secret location, helps 40 women a year.

One of the trust's services at risk is a 24-hour helpline, which is the only one of its type in Cornwall.

Desperate callers

The charity gets about 1,000 calls a year to the helpline.

Project worker Jean Young said callers were desperate.

She said: "We are often the first person to believe them.

"The other extreme is the woman committing suicide."

One-in-four women are likely to suffer domestic violence in their lives.

Trust co-ordinator Lesley Welch said she would be devastated if cutbacks were forced on the refuge.

She said: "I think it would be a terrible loss. We have made progress in the battle against domestic violence in the last 30 years, since refuges started.

"There's better legislation and awareness.

"What hasn't changed is the level of domestic violence in society."