A Bradford support group for the victims of domestic violence has received almost £500,000 of Lottery cash to help its work.

The grant to Bradford Women's Aid comes as the British Medical Association warns that there is a hidden epidemic of domestic violence.

Last week the Telegraph & Argus revealed that police in Bradford are called to an average of 870 incidents of domestic abuse a month.

Sally Deane, of Bradford Women's Aid, said staff were struggling to cope with the demand and the Lottery funding will mean it can develop its services to help hundreds more women.

She said: "This is an enormous boost to the project, which has in recent years been struggling to keep up with the demand for services with a team largely made up of part-time staff.

"We can now create several new posts which will mean support and assistance can be provided for up to 400 additional women and children over a three-year period.

"This will include some specialist language and cultural support for Asian women living in refuge accommodation.

"This represents a 44 per cent increase in our overall service provision per year."

Vanessa White, of the Big Lottery Fund, said: "It's so important women wishing to leave a domestic abuse situation are supported, with accommodation, counselling and access to police and legal assistance. This grant will help Bradford Women's Aid to better meet demand and ensure more vulnerable women and their children can get help."

The BMA report, entitled Domestic Abuse, said that at least 750,000 children a year witness abuse.

One in four women and one in six men are physically abused by a partner during their lifetime.

Nationally an average of two women a week lose their lives to domestic abuse.