Victims need a range of support to protect them, says Women's Aid

Islington Council said women fleeing domestic violence face another hurdle - becoming homeless.

Instead they can then have reinforced safe rooms and other measures fitted to keep violent partners out long enough for the police to arrive.

Nineteen women in the north London borough have had the rooms fitted.

Fireproof letterboxes, strengthened doors and second phone lines are among other measures fitted, if a police risk assessment finds the woman can stay in the home.

If he ever comes to the door and starts smashing it, I know which room to run to Domestic violence victim

Among those to have the work carried out is a mother-of-four whose partner turned abusive 11 years ago.

Last May she took out a court injunction against him, after he hit her mother over the head.

She told BBC London: "[My case worker] helped me to speak to somebody to put up safety locks in my house and put a mobile phone in my bedroom.

"If he ever comes to the door and starts smashing it, I know which room to run to, me and my kids. I feel much safer now."

'Measures in place'

The Home Shelter Scheme is part of Islington's wider "Domestic Violence Matters" project.

Islington councillor Laura Willoughby said fitting the measures for the 19 women had cost about �30,000 while re-housing them in temporary, sometimes cramped, accommodation would have cost �200,000.

Deborah McIlveen, from the charity Women's Aid, said victims needed to be offered a combination of measures so they were "not just left in a house with a steel room and no support".

Police and domestic violence agencies needed to be involved, before the rooms were installed, she added.