A FILM about domestic violence will receive its premiere in Hartlepool tomorrow.

Domestic violence and living in an abusive relationship are the themes explored in the video made by a group of 17 to 19-year-olds who attend a Barnardo's advice centre in the town.

The short film was made with the help of a local film company and is called A Future Without Violence.

The film will be shown at Barnardo's B76 project, Church Street, Hartlepool.

It focuses on a young woman in an abusive relationship and how her support network of mother, friends and sisters fails her.

The group of six, one boy and five girls, researched, wrote and acted in the drama as well as directing parts of it.

Barnardo's worker Geraldine Holland said: "They made sure every bit of it was accurate, because of the emotive and controversial subject it is. They explored areas less well known about domestic violence, in that the anger of a woman's friends and relatives, not necessarily against the abuser but against the woman herself for putting up with the violence, can victimise her even more and lead her to even more stress."

Once the group had reached the stage where they were ready to begin filming, they called on local company Carpet Films, which over a two-week period, filmed the drama and then edited it.

The film also discusses the situation and support systems available to women in violent domestic situations and ends with a list of helplines and phone numbers.

Ms Holland, who is hoping to show the video in schools, said: "Everyone should be aware of the horrors of domestic violence even at a young age and to recognise the onset of it and what help is available.