CAMPAIGNERS will rally ahead of a crucial vote that could see funding for domestic abuse shelters slashed.

Wendy Thomson, a campaigner for the Women's Equality Party in Reading has set up an online petition against proposed cuts to Berkshire Women's Aid, a charity that helps victims of domestic abuse, including women, men and children.

“These are life or death cuts where people might be killed at the hands of parents or partners," she said.

"I grew up witnessing and suffering from domestic abuse.

"It affects everyone in the household. Cuts to these services hurt, literally.

"Victims need to know that when they ask for help, that it will be there.

"Statistically one in four women will experience domestic violence over their lifetimes. Two women are killed every week in England and Wales by a current or former partner.

"Austerity cuts impact the most vulnerable in our society. The victims of domestic abuse are traumatised. It is not easy for survivors to talk about or campaign against it."

The petition has already reached over 700 signatures with demonstrators set to rally in Market Square at 5.45pm on Monday, February 13.

Reading Borough Council propose to cut funding to Berkshire Women’s Aid scrapping 10 of the town's 25 refuge places.

Berkshire Women’s Aid is a charity that helps victims of domestic abuse, including women, men and children.

About 80 per cent of domestic violence victims they help come from outside the Reading area.

Women’s associations across the country work together to get victims away from their abusers and prevent them from being hunted down.

But after a public consultation meeting with the charity yesterday morning, the Council announced it still planned to reduce the number of refuge places and invest the £58,000 saving in outreach services.

Jo Lovelock leader of Reading Borough Council said: "We currently provide significantly more refuge places than other local authorities in the Thames Valley.

“Huge cuts in grants from central government mean we need to bring our domestic abuse services more in line with other local authorities and re-design them to ensure victims still receive the best possible support within the budget constraints.

“These proposals would mean that Reading would still be funding above the regional average number of refuge places and increasing the money available for outreach services where demand is growing."