A CAMPAIGN has made thousands of people more aware of domestic abuse.

Actress Crissy Rock launched the ‘Be a Lover not a Fighter’ campaign across Cheshire and Merseyside two weeks ago.

Since then nearly 2000 people have liked the campaign on Facebook and thousands have engaged with it online and via engagement events which are taking place across the nine local authority areas involved.

Crissy Rock, who stars as Janey York in the hit TV series Benidorm said:“I can’t believe how this has taken off.

“I’m really pleased to see so many people listening to what’s being said.

“As a survivor of domestic abuse myself, I welcome anything that can be done to help both men and women get out of abusive relationships and build a brighter more positive future.” The campaign invites people to pledge their support to help put an end to domestic abuse.

It aims to raise awareness of the often hidden issue by encouraging people to talk about it.

One in three women and one in six men have suffered domestic abuse with two women killed every week in the UK by their partners.

It’s not just physical violence. Emotional and psychological abuse is less well acknowledged but is also domestic abuse.

‘Be a Lover not a Fighter’ is the latest campaign run by Champs, a public health collaborative of the directors of public health across the nine local authorities in Cheshire and Merseyside.

It aims to generate discussion about domestic abuse, its signs and impacts, while offering help to bring the subject out into the open.

Other celebrities including Shameless actress Karen Bryson, Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe, Everton Football Club’s Ambassadors Ian Snodin, Graham Sharp and Graham Stuart, and Miguel De Foro, from Britain’s Got Talent’s MD Productions have pledged their support.

They have all shared videos of support showing their ‘heart hands’ on social media for the public to join in with their own. Matthew Ashton, the director of public health spokeman for the campaign said: “We are delighted with the level of public support we have received so far.

“People are engaging with the campaign, talking about the issue and finding out more about the wealth of help and support that is available across Cheshire and Merseyside via our partnership working.

“This campaign always aimed to breakdown boundaries and stop domestic abuse being a hidden issue in communities. We want to encourage people to continue to pledge their support and get involved.”

For more information about the campaign visit lovernotfighter.org.uk