CHILDREN caught up in domestic violence are being encouraged to ask for help as part of a new initiative.

Darlington Domestic Violence Forum has launched a campaign to ensure young people know that violence at home is not their fault and they are not alone.

Domestic violence accounts for more than 25 per cent of violent crime in the country and in 90 per cent of recorded incidents children are near to the attack.

This mean more than three million children in the country witness domestic violence each year.

Research has also shown that when violence is directed at a mother, there is an increased risk that a child will also be attacked.

Claire Seymour of the domestic violence forum said: "Living with violence creates stress and tensions for children.

"They may blame themselves and often their needs are overlooked.

"A major impact for many children is living with uncertainty and upheaval - never quite knowing when the next incident will occur, when they might be expected to leave home, where they will live, who to trust, what secrets have to kept from whom, who they may lose from their lives and when it all may begin again.

"We want young people in Darlington to know that domestic violence is never their fault or their responsibility and that help is available."

To highlight the problems of children in violent relationships, members of the forum were in the Cornmill Shopping Centre yesterday (weds).

They handed out leaflets to shoppers highlighting the impact of domestic violence on youngsters and special business cards designed to encourage youngsters to report any problems they are having.

To ensure more youngsters are aware of domestic violence, the Darlington charity is running a competition to design a children's bookmark focusing on raising awareness of violence in the home.

The winning design will be professionally produced and distributed at schools, libraries and health authorities.

For details of the competition log onto www.ddvf.org