More with learning disabilities forced to wed

An increasing number of young people in the UK with learning disabilities are being forced into marriage by their own families.

Every year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Forced Marriage Unit deals with around 400 cases.

And a significant number involve people with learning disabilities.

The unit's head Sarah Russell said: "We don't have any firm statistics, but anecdotally we are seeing more and more cases of victims with learning disabilities as awareness around the whole issue of forced marriage is rising."

Disability charities, meanwhile, warn that forced marriage is being used as a way to ensure that children with disabilities will be looked after.

Rachael Clawson of the Ann Craft Trust believes that parents are worried about the future of their adult child.

"Often they're looking for a full time carer for that person," she said.

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