CUTS to domestic abuse services at a time of rising demand is putting “immense pressure” on refuges and specialist services, a charity has said.

West Wales Domestic Abuse Service, which has offices in Aberystwyth and Cardigan and relies on Welsh Government funding, said they have already seen an increase from 87 clients fleeing domestic abuse between 2014 and 2015, to 90 such clients for the first nine months of the current financial year alone.

The charity has warned that the service could cease to operate altogether if the threat of cuts to funding continues.

Rachael Eagles, managing director of West Wales Domestic Abuse Service, said: “The threat of cuts has put immense pressure on refuges and specialist domestic abuse services across Wales at a time where demand for this support has risen significantly.

“It is critical therefore that current resources and services available to such vulnerable individuals and their families is protected, and a commitment from organisations such as us in continuing the struggle to protect vital funding both now and in the future should remain.

“If funding is not secured this could lead to long-standing services being lost completely or generic services being responsible for providing the support without necessarily the experience and specialist knowledge and skills required.”

See next week’s south editions for the full story