New centres where hate-crime can be reported have opened across South Gloucestershire.

The centres are based in locations chosen because they are independent and safe, as well as familiar, such as council one-stop shops, town council buildings and Citizens Advice Bureau.

The first centres are in Kingswood, Patchway, Staple Hill, Thornbury and Yate.

But it is hoped to get more open at other sites by the end of the year.

Hate-crime can involve verbal abuse, harassment, attacks, damage to property and graffiti, be it racist, faith-based, homophobic or aimed at disabled people.

An advertising campaign featuring posters on buses is also running to raise awareness of what hate-crime is and where it can be reported in confidence.

The campaign is funded by Safer South Gloucestershire and driven by the South Gloucestershire Partnership Against Hate Crime (PAHC). Carl Saunders, vice-chairman of PAHC, said: "The centres aim to encourage people to report hate-crime if they are victims or witnesses of it and to reassure them that they can do so in a safe and unthreatening environment.

"Everybody deserves to live their lives free of hate. This campaign is just part of a number of initiatives across the area to help prevent and tackle hate-crime through awareness raising, to support victims and to bring perpetrators to justice."

The centres are in Kingswood one-stop shop, Patchway Town Council offices, Staple Hill CAB, the Elevation Group at Staple Hill, Thornbury and Yate CABs.