WOMEN who wish to contact the Devon Rape Crisis Service can now do so by email.

The organisation already offers a telephone helpline which is open three times a week and gives support to women survivors of rape, childhood sexual abuse and other forms of sexual violence, as well as to friends, partners and family members.

It also delivers face to face support at a number of locations across the county for women who prefer to see someone in person.

This unique way of supporting women means a more flexible service with less need for travel, vital in a large county like Devon.

The email service is another way of increasing options for people, and addresses some of the issues of women living in rural isolation, as well as meeting the needs of some disabled women who prefer to access support in this manner.

Service manager Fee Scott said: 'I'm really pleased that we'll be able to offer this new service to women and their friends and family members.

'It will definitely complement our existing services and ensure greater options for women right across the county.

'We know that it can be difficult for some people to phone to get support, because of where they live or because they are caring for others or are disabled.

'Perhaps the biggest reason women survivors of sexual violence don't call the helpline is because they are feeling fearful or ashamed and don't know how to begin to talk about what happened to them.

'We know that 40% of women never tell anyone what has happened to them and email is a good way for women to start to disclose in a safe way.

'Our new service is particularly safe because we cannot see the email address of the person contacting us, making the email completely anonymous.

'We believe that all women who have experienced sexual violence should have access to high quality support to help them recover and hope that by offering telephone, email and face to face support, we will be giving more women this opportunity.'

The email address is: [email protected]">[email protected] and telephone Helpline is 01392 204174.

For further information contact Fee Scott, service manager: [email protected]">[email protected] and 01392 208756.