Police in Kent are bracing themselves for a surge in domestic abuse as Euro 2016 kicks off.

Reports of violence in the home tend to rise during major tournaments, with 21 more offences when England lost to Italy during the 2014 World Cup compared to the previous weekend.

Victims are thought to be at higher risk during England games because the mixture of alcohol and high emotions could make their partners more volatile.

Police are urging victims to avoid their abuser if their behaviour worsens, and call police if incidents do happen.

Detective Superintendent Andy Pritchard from Kent Police said: "Football doesn’t cause domestic abuse, but it can certainly be a factor that can compound it within certain relationships. There are other factors such as alcohol that can be aggravating factors.

"We predicted that there would be an increase in domestic incidents during the tournament and we want people to report these incidents to us, and to be confident about doing so.

"Domestic abuse is historically an under-reported crime, but there is a huge amount of support available for men and women who have found themselves in an abusive relationship and they should be reassured that help is available if you are a victim."

Kent Police will be issuing advice to victims on social media during the tournament, including Twitter, where users can read and share advice using the hashtag #KentDA.

For more information about help and support available in Kent, visit the domestic abuse services website.