New research out today reveals that almost 10 million British women claim they'd leave immediately if a partner struck them.

When questioned about how they'd react if physically assaulted for the first time by a current or future partner, 41 per cent of female adults say they'd leave straight away.

Yet the shocking reality is that a woman suffering domestic violence will be beaten an average of 35 times before finally calling the police.

Now a personal alarm scheme for women at risk is being launched by the Body Shop. Called the 'Donate a phone, save a life' campaign, it is being launched in conjunction with national domestic violence charity Women's Aid to provide a lifeline to vulnerable women.

Whilst 20 per cent of women admit they have lived, or do currently live in fear of violence happening, more than half (52 per cent) told researchers for The Body Shop they'd be too embarrassed and ashamed to tell their friends. Even more (59 per cent) would stay tight-lipped with family.

The personal alarm scheme, the first of its kind in the UK for domestic violence victims, will be rolled out initially in Birmingham and then in London, Norwich, Bristol and Glasgow over the next six months.

The 'Donate a Phone, Save a Life' campaign urges people across the UK to donate old or unwanted mobile phones. These phones will be used to generate mobile personal alarms - with direct dial to 999 at the touch of any button - and distributed to at risk women.

Freepost envelopes to donate the handsets are available to pick up at over 300 stores of The Body Shop across the UK.

Launching the partnership at a women's support centre in south London, Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop said she hopes this new campaign will not only provide a much needed lifeline for vulnerable women, but empower everyone to act and help stop violence in the home.

She said: "Leaving a violent relationship isn't as easy as you may think. In fact, our research shows that three in five women would be too ashamed to even tell their own mother that they were being abused by their partner."

"A woman is often at her most vulnerable when planning to leave, or having just left a violent relationship. That's why The Body Shop is launching this personal alarm scheme, providing women with a lifeline at a time when they need it most."

"I personally urge everyone to rally behind this campaign and search out old mobile phones that may be hanging around at home and in the work place, and donate them to help bring this amazing initiative to life."

Nicola Harwin CBE, Director of national domestic violence charity Women's Aid, said: "Millions of women live with the fear of violence every day and yet many will tell no-one."

"Instead, they will suffer in silence because they don't know where to turn or are too afraid or ashamed to reveal their abuse - we hope that this new and innovative campaign with The Body Shop will help increase protection for women at risk by providing them with a direct route to the police."

The 'Donate a Phone, Save a Life' campaign aims to provide a much-needed solution to the dangers faced by many female victims of domestic violence. Mobiles phones collected by The Body Shop - who estimate there could be as many as 17 million mobile handsets unused across the UK - will either be converted into a personal alarm by Fonesforsafety or recycled to raise funds to support the scheme.

Domestic violence survivor Bryony, who was abused by her husband for more than three years before fleeing, applauded the new mobile personal alarm scheme.

Bryony said: "I suffered in silence for a long time, hiding my secret from family and friends for years before finding the strength to leave. Having a mobile personal alarm would have made a real difference and potentially given me the confidence to leave sooner. I ask everyone to donate their old mobiles to support this much needed initiative and help women and children everywhere."

Assistant Chief Constable Jim Gamble, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Leader for domestic violence and harassment, added, "The police are concerned with holding perpetrators to account and protecting victims of this crime. I fully support the personal alarm scheme as it will aid victim protection by allowing them to have safer and more direct access to the police. I would encourage everyone with a spare mobile phone to donate it to the Body Shop. You can make a difference, you can help victims of domestic violence and perhaps even save a life."