NEW figures have revealed a disturbing increase in incidents of domestic violence in the region during the World Cup.

Victims' groups claim there were three times as many reported cases of domestic violence after England's first World Cup match during the jubilee weekend.

There are now fears that the violence could continue as England progress into the second round of the competition.

In Darlington, the police dealt with 37 reported incidents of domestic violence over the jubilee weekend, between June 1 and June 4.

This compared with only 12 incidents for the same period last year, which was not a Bank Holiday.

On the Sunday, when England played Sweden, Darlington police received reports of 17 cases of domestic violence, compared to just two a month earlier on May 2.

Claire Seymour, of the Darlington Domestic Violence Forum said: "We do not think that football is the cause of the increase in the figures but it is more likely to be the circumstances that surround the event."

Experts in domestic violence already recognise that during holiday periods, when families spend more time together, there is a marked increase in reported incidents of violence.

Ms Seymour believes that the Jubilee Bank Holiday, with many people taking four days off work, could well have contributed to the increase in violent incidents.

Although men can be victims of domestic violence, more than 90 per cent of reported incidents in the region involve violent men and female victims.

Children who live in families where there is domestic violence are also 15 per cent more likely to suffer abuse themselves.

During the first week of the World Cup, there was also an increase in the number of women who fled to the refuge in Darlington to escape violence.

Between June 1 and 7 last year, only two women were given refuge in Darlington. For the same week this year, nine women moved into the safe house.

This experience was also reflected elsewhere in the region, with a number of women seeking places at a refuge in North Durham.

A spokeswoman for the refuge said: We were full throughout the jubilee weekend and there were five or six referrals on one day, which is a lot more than normal.

"We had some women moving out and there were others waiting to take their places.

"We often find there is an increase in violence when there are derby football matches or during holidays and this weekend was a combination of the two.