AS millions tuned in to watch the trial of battered wife Little Mo in the hit television soap EastEnders last week, campaigners for women suffering domestic violence in Preston have praised the programme.

Now staff at Preston Women's Refuge are aiming to raise awareness about domestic violence to help dozens of women in the Preston area.

The caring group are planning to launch a 'Free Little Mo' campaign if the long suffering character is imprisoned in the soap, after being found guilty last week of attempted murder.

It comes as Preston Women's Refuge director and former Preston councillor Valerie Wise revealed one in four women suffer domestic violence sometime during in their life.

According to Valerie the controlling behaviour experienced by women in these situations could include physical, sexual and emotional abuse which can often be very difficult to prove in a court of law.

Valerie, daughter of the late Labour MP Audrey Wise, is also a member of Preston Domestic Violence Interagency Forum, which aims to improve links between victims of domestic violence and social and business organisations.

For one woman -- known only as Sue -- the recent EastEnders story line brought back vivid memories of her own suffering, after being physically and mentally abused for five years.

"When I left with my four children, I had £6 in my purse and I was turning my back on a five bedroom house and all my friends. It wasn't easy but he had threatened to cut my throat," said Sue.

In happier times Sue had the world at her feet, living with her taxi driver boyfriend, bringing up her four daughters.

Then the bubble burst and her partner turned violent for no apparent reason. Scared and frightened Sue turned to Preston Women's Refuge for help.

"He knew my routine," she said. "Taking the girls to school and picking them up and taking them to Brownies. Only the youngest had seen him abuse me. If she didn't get her own way she would say 'I'll get daddy to beat you'.

"I threw him out but it escalated and he'd break into the house at night and hit me. In the end I was afraid to go out. I stayed in with the curtains drawn."

Valerie said: "In Preston we have a good service for people suffering domestic violence and women who have come from outside the town have been surprised with the help they receive."

The domestic violence helpline is 201601.