DOMESTIC violence counsellors have vowed to carry on despite losing out on a £750,000 grant.

A consortium between Darlington Domestic Violence Forum and County Durham's women refugees had hoped to secure the money from the Northern Rock Foundation.

But their claim was knocked back when the awarding body decided not to class County Durham as a rural area.

A slice of £4m from the foundation had been earmarked for a rural project, but it was decided that County Durham was urban. The grant was instead given to a project in Gateshead.

Rachel Green, Durham Constabulary's strategic domestic co-ordinator, said: "I think it's unfortunate that only one area is going to benefit from the money.

"There could have been a bit shared between all the areas in the North-East and we could all have helped and learnt from each other."

It was hoped that the much-needed cash could go towards a new service aimed at perpetrators and workers to help victims at refuges.

Despite the setback, Mrs Green insisted that initiatives to combat domestic violence were continuing, including anti-homophobic and perpetrator programmes.