An abused Basildon woman has given new hope to victims of domestic violence - by making a film about her experiences.

The 25-year-old mother suffered at the hands of her cruel husband but managed to escape his clutches and turn her life around.

Now her video of hope is to be shown to abused women across south Essex to prove there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The moving film was previewed at Basildon Women's Refuge's annual general meeting on Wednesday night, attended by Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith.

Refuge manager Lyn Headley said: "This film will be very important to women in Essex. It will show them that they can leave an abusive partner and start a new life and live happily."

The mother-of-three, who does not want to be identified, was humiliated by her husband and his family.

She was eventually persuaded to take her three young children and turn her back on the violence.

Basildon's Women's Refuge took her in when she was at her lowest ebb.

Lyn said: "She was quite badly abused by her husband and his family. When she came to us she was very low and her self-esteem was zero."

Refuge workers organised training courses to give her the confidence and job skills needed to win back her independence.

One year later she and her children have begun their life anew with everything to look forward to.

Lyn said: "We asked her to make the video because we thought she was such a good example of how a woman can change her life.

"She is a different person now. She is full of life. She was very courageous to make it."

The five-minute video, which was sponsored by Ford Motor Company, will be shown to battered women and agencies dealing with domestic violence.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.