Hundreds of people attend emotional vigil following deaths of four women in 20 days in Doncaster

Saturday’s touching vigil was hosted by Women’s Lives Matter in Elmfield Park.

The demonstration was held following the tragic deaths in recent weeks of Michelle Morris, Amanda Sedgwick, Amy Stringfellow and an as yet unnamed Mexborough woman.

The vigil presented an opportunity for friends and family members of those who died to say goodbye and send out a powerful message calling for an end to violence against women.

Representing the Women’s Lives Matter movement, Amy Cousens said: “Whilst it’s difficult, we need to talk about the political reasons and that’s why we as a campaign called it.

“We wanted to mark the lives of the women that have been lost, we want people to remember them and we want the perpetrators to know that we’re remembering them, but also this needs to end.”

She added: “People need to talk to each other but that’s not the main message from us. The reason why domestic violence has increased is because women are trapped in abuse, it means that they can’t just go to another council home, they don’t often have the right services available to them.

“All the research points to austerity being the reason why domestic violence has increased, so we do need to talk to each other, and we need to reach out to our daughters. We desperately need services, we need counselling and we really need the police to step up.

“To everyone affected by this, be angry, but act. We have to act to get our services back. We can’t accept that this is happening, we need proper intervention in our communities, we proper services and we need them now.”

Angela Waller, also from the Women’s Lives Matter movement, Said: “This particular vigil will highlight the understanding and awareness of domestic violence, and in itself help the level of abuse come down.”

Michelle, aged 52, was fatally injured at a property in Ramskir View, Stainforth, on May 24, after suffering serious head injuries. She died in hospital three days later.

Two men, aged 33 and 47, and a 24-year-old woman have all been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Amy Stringfellow, aged 26, a mum of one, died at a house in Dryden Road, Balby on June 5.

A 45-year-old man, Terence ‘Tez’ Papworth, of Dryden Road, Balby, has been charged with her murder and is due to stand trial later this year.

Meanwhile, two men have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman who was found dead in Mexborough.

The 28-year-old's body was discovered by police when they were called to a property on Main Street in Mexborough on Monday.

The men, aged 27 and 33, were arrested at the scene and remain in custody.

South Yorkshire Police have not yet named the victim.

Amanda Sedgwick, aged 49, died at a property on Manor Way, Asken, on May 20. A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.