RIGHTS campaigners warned yesterday that women and children’s lives would be at risk after the new Budget announced a four-year freeze on working tax credits and the end of housing benefit for under-21s.

Women Against Rape spokeswoman Alex Brew told the Star how women and children in abusive relationships were particularly vulnerable to the cuts.

“It’s much harder to leave a violent relationship if you know that you’ll be going into absolute poverty.

“If you’re not going to be able to feed your kids or yourself, then you really don’t have many options but to stay in the violent relationship,” said Ms Brew.

She said that the end of working tax credits was “huge,” particularly hitting women, who make up the majority of carers in Britain.

“If you’re caring for either sick relatives or if you’re a mum, then you’re quite often relying on doing part-time work and if you’re doing part-time work it’s really hard to survive.”