The announcement that victims of sex assaults are to get more care and support from money seized from the proceeds of crime has been welcomed in Bradford.

The Home Office is pouring in £4 million to help victims of sex offenders nationwide.

The money will be used to almost double the number of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) which provide care, counselling and advice.

It will also be used to fund a national phone help-line for victims of sexual offences.

Today the Bradford Victims Support group welcomed the announcement.

The eight current centres are dotted around the country from Newcastle to London. Another six will be introduced by September, including in Derbyshire and the West Midlands.

Joanne Waterhouse, manager of Bradford Victims Support, said she was not disappointed West Yorkshire had not figured in the new SARCs.

"We welcome this. It is a step in the right direction," she said.

"Hopefully it is the start of a process which will see other improvements, and will be a stepping stone to more SARCs being introduced."

Mrs Waterhouse said she hoped increasing the number of the centres would encourage more victims to come forward.

"We know from our own experiences that if they do not get the support they are much less likely to see it through by going to court and giving evidence.

"It is an incredibly intimidating experience for people going to court, let alone for cases of sex crime. Any support people can get to help them through has to be a real bonus."

She also praised the plan to introduce a national telephone help-line.

"We operate a support line and we think this will complement it," she said. "For some people, being able to pick up a phone and talk to someone about their experiences can be incredibly therapeutic."

Mr Blunkett announced the cash boost in Westminster at the first National Victims Conference. He said the extra funding was part of a new commitment he dubbed "victims' justice".

A Home Office spokeswoman said it could not be ruled out that West Yorkshire would get a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in the future.