A CHARITY that helps women in York move on from abusive relationships has celebrated opening a new counselling room.

Kyra is based in St Saviourgate, and works with professional lawyers, therapists, financial advisors and others - all of whom give their time for free or at a greatly discounted rate.

The charity was set up four years ago to help women who have left abusive relationships, but also works with women around York to help them through a variety of situations.

Lord Mayor Cllr Barbara Boyce opened The Poppy Room - a new room dedicated to one-on-one counselling - as a tribute to one of the organisation’s first users.

Alex Dixon-Mersh sought help from Kyra in 2015, when she was suffered with post-natal depression, and yesterday, she and her daughter Poppy - now two - met the civic party and unveiled the room named in Poppy’s honour.

Ann Pinsent, who worked with Alex, said: “We deal with other issues as well as abuse and get quite a lot of ladies with post-natal depression and bereavements. “Poppy is two now and Alex went on to be a great supporter of Kyra and I’ve seen her blossom, learning how to drive and starting work and she’s just the best mum in the world.”