But they were often unwilling to report the attacks, she said.

"We do work with men who have been abused,'' she told the Lions lunch.

"We have male clients that are victims of domestic violence.

"But unfortunately men are very, very hesitant in coming forward and saying they have been battered by their wives.

"Last summer I spoke with a man six times before convincing him to come into the centre.'' He was worried about friends seeing him go into the Women's Resource Centre, she said.

But she also stressed far more women were battered than men.