The former wife of a former England footballer, Sheryl Gascoigne, yesterday spoke of her continuing fear following eight years of domestic violence and urged other women to seek refuge from abusive partners.

Launching a Metropolitan Police advertising campaign against domestic violence, Gascoigne said: "I suffered in silence for eight years not knowing there was help out there and I want everyone to know now there is help and the police are right behind us now."

The Metropolitian Police are calling for special courts to tackle the problem.