PARENTS of sex abuse victims are being encouraged to take advantage of a specialist support service in Trowbridge.

The West Wiltshire Family Centre, in Fore Street, is offering a free course, organised by charity Barnardos, to help families rebuild their lives after abuse.

The group has already helped many families in west Wiltshire and Barnardos is hoping to raise its profile and encourage more people to come along to the courses.

Margaret Anne Zaccheo, a senior practitioner with Barnardos, said: "The Hope group was established to fill a gap in provision, and has now helped more than 50 local families.

"Participants are the non-abusing carers of children who have been sexually abused or are at risk of being sexually abused."

The course looks at attitudes towards sexual abusers and theories as to why they do it.

It helps parents and carers to manage the difficult behaviour that can be prompted in a child as a result of abuse and to improve communication within the family.

A wide range of teaching methods are used, from art and reading to group and individual work.

The West Wiltshire Family Centre provides advice and support to adults and children across Trowbridge, Melksham, Bradford on Avon, Warminster and Westbury, as well as the surrounding villages.

For information contact the centre on (01225) 751261.