"WE'VE got the service, and we don't want people to be scared of using it."

This is the message from the manager of Swindon's new sexual assault referral centre, which was officially unveiled yesterday.

The New Swindon Sanctuary has been open since the start of last month and will be taken over by health care providers Veritas on Monday .

Four doctors and four nurses will provide a 24-hour service for victims of sexual assault in the Sanctuary's new home, adjacent to Gablecross police station.

But centre manager Julie James is keen to reassure victims that they should not be intimated by the Sanctuary's new base and that they can expect the same treatment that was available at the former site in Taw Hill.

"The facilities are very similar as they are state-of-the-art and we are talking about developing them even further," she said.

"We have counselling on offer for all victims. The centre is in a separate building and people don't have to go anywhere near the police station if they don't want to.

"We are situated just off a public car park and we have asked the police not to park any of their marked police cars near our building.

"We will be providing a 24/7-service and we will continue to provide a one-stop shop so victims will be offered all medical services and psychological and social support."