A TV star has spoken of her admiration for a York women's project which has bloomed in the last two years.

Penelope Wilton - who starred in Downton Abbey, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and 80s sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles - was at Kyra as the St Saviourgate-based project marked its second birthday.

The actress praised the volunteer-led scheme, which offers counselling, self-esteem courses and other services to women in York.

Penelope said: "I think Kyra is a wonderful organisation which gives women choices where perhaps they didn't have them before.

"It's a place where women can feel safe, and they can have counselling or just be with other women in a safe environment and talk to each other.

"There is a great need for projects like this, and that is shown by the fact that Kyra used to be in smaller premises and have now moved here and are running out of space here."

The Scarborough-born actress became Kyra's patron earlier this year, after she was introduced to its work by screen writer Mark Herman and his wife Joy.

Kyra's founder Yvonne Copley gave up her job to start Kyra in 2013. She said the anniversary celebration on Tuesday was "unbelievable".

"When I started this two years ago I expected to have 30 women through the door. Now we have 258 registered with us. This year has been busy moving in to premises and of course getting Penelope Wilton on board as our new patron.

"We still rely on our volunteers who bring their expertise and energies."

The support Kyra offers is in high demand, Yvonne said, and they do not see the numbers declining. She said seeing the results was enormously rewarding.

Among Kyra's members who celebrated the second anniversary was 53-year-old Bishopthorpe woman Louise Bishop, who joined shortly after it was set up.

She said: "The people at Kyra are just so friendly. I came because I have mental health problems and I'm a carer and my anxiety was really bad.

"You feel you can talk to the volunteers here - like they care but not in a fussy way."

Since she first got involved at Kyra nearly two years ago, Louise has now started helping with the project's fundraising, which is vital as the demand for its services continues to grow.

She added: "I think it's brilliant that it can reach out to so many women in so many different ways."

Later on Tuesday, Kyra hosted a special reception and question and answer session with Penelope Wilton to encourage people to become "Founding Friends of Kyra" and support the project financially or in kind.