A male domestic abuse accommodation service, described as the first such service in Cumbria, is set to open.

Springfield Domestic Abuse Support has received an £8,000 donation from the Morrisons Foundation to help fund the project.

The money will be used to open a safe accommodation service that will provide short-term emergency housing for male survivors of domestic abuse.

Tori O'Callaghan-Lake, CEO of Springfield Domestic Abuse Support, said: "Later this year, Springfield will be opening our male safe accommodation service.

"This will be the first accommodation service of its kind in Cumbria, with no existing provision of specialist domestic abuse-supported accommodation for men in the county.

"Thanks to the support from the Morrisons Foundation, the project will provide accommodation and offer specialist support to men who are at the highest risk of harm and homicide due to domestic abuse, helping them recover from the trauma and abuse they have experienced."

The Morrisons Foundation donation was recommended by Rachel Latham, community champion at the Morrisons store in Kendal, as part of the supermarket's 125th anniversary Community Spaces Fund.

The fund invited 125 charities to apply for a share of £1 million, with grants of up to £8,000 each to enhance community spaces and facilities.

Ms Latham said: "I'm very proud that through the Morrisons Foundation we have been able to help Springfield Domestic Abuse Support develop their new facility to provide vital support to men affected by domestic abuse.

"The refuge really will make a huge difference to the lives of men and their families in Cumbria, and it was an honour to present this donation to such a worthy local charity."

The Morrisons Foundation was set up by Morrisons in 2015 and awards grants for charity projects which help improve people’s lives.