By Marie-Louise Connolly BBC Radio Ulster

Men experiencing domestic violence is rarely reported.

But according to the government and various voluntary agencies there has been a dramatic increase in the number of calls received by men who claim to be suffering physical and mental abuse at home.

Many men are too afraid to admit to being victims

Last week, BBC News Online and BBC Radio Ulster broadcast moving and very dramatic stories of women who have suffered physical violence at the hands of men.

But what about men who suffer at the hands of women?

We received many messages from men asking us to look at this taboo subject.

For the past week, I have been investigating this hidden issue, many of the men I spoke to about their experiences did so for the first time.

Many men are too afraid and embarrassed to admit to being victims of domestic violence.

For several years, Robert, who lives in the north west suffered in silence.

Last year, his wife left the home - leaving behind six children. Robert says after their second child, his wife became depressed and then began to abuse him mentally and physically.

He said: "On one occasion she hit me with a plank of wood so hard - several times - she just kept beating me.

"I didn't even ask her to stop. I told her I didn't want to harm or hurt her. Then she just kept shouting at me."

He says he is too embarrassed to go into his police station to complain that his wife is being verbally abusive to him

From his living room - strewn with toys, Robert lives a very quiet life that just centres around his children.

He continues to receive abusive calls from his wife, who often accuses him of abusing her and their children.

He has been in court several times - but now the local police have started to charge his wife with wasting police time.

Robert, who is at least 6ft tall, with a kind round face, says he is frightened. And he says he is too embarrassed to go into his police station to complain that his wife is being verbally abusive to him.

"If I was to say to them my wife belittles me, mocks me... sure the police would only laugh at me."

We received many messages from men asking us to look at this taboo subject

In North Down, Alan, not his real name, recalls over 20 years of domestic violence.

"She nagged me, bullied me, made me feel small... this just wasn't a one off - it was continuous - every day. It just wears you down."

On several occasions his wife hit him - though he does admit, on three occasions, to hitting her back.

Sitting in his study, he recalls his nightmares, which he says feature his wife "lambasting" him. He says he's depressed - "a broken man".

The Men's Advisory Project in Belfast says it has had a considerable increase in the number of calls from men who want help. But with a lack of resources - very often there is no one there to answer the phone.

Support worker, Maxine McCutheon says domestic violence against men needs to be recognised more by the government.

She says men also need refuges where they can go and facilities that can help them with for instance legal aid.