More than one forced marriage a week takes place in Oxford, according to the organisers of a new project aimed at stamping out the practice.

The Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board is desperate to raise awareness of the issue and the honour-based violence which surrounds it.

Each year the city witnesses at least 60 forced marriages - as compared to arranged marriages where both parties consent - but, experts say that the figure is a "gross under- representation".

A conference was held at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium yesterday in a bid to highlight the problem. It is the first time a group has been pulled together to discuss the problem in the UK - and organisers said the interest had been "immense".

Project leader Laetisia Staniforth said: "It is estimated at least 60 forced marriages take place in Oxford alone - not Oxfordshire- each year.

"And that is considered a gross under representation.

"Honour-based crimes are motivated by the desire to protect the family. Different members of the family may be the perpetrators, or they may come from the extended family or the wider community that the victim has never met before.

"The abuse often involves harassment, stalking, kidnap, and, obviously in the most extreme cases, honour killing."

Mrs Staniforth said although police systems were currently unable to label a murder as an honour killing, there were thought to be 12 linked murders a year in Britain.

In 2004, 19-year-old Arash Ghorbani-Zarin was ambushed as he drove along Spencer Crescent, in Rose Hill, Oxford, and stabbed 46 times.

Chomir Ali, 44, and his sons Mohammed Mujibar Rahman, 19, and Mamnoor Rahman, 15 - were jailed for a total of 50 years for the attack after the victim started a relationship with Ali's daughter and got her pregnant.

Mrs Staniforth said: "The most common victims are from India, Bangladesh, Iran, Somalia, Bosnia and Romany-Gipsy communities.

"It is most prevalent among Pakistani Muslim women aged 15 and 24.

"We set out to invite 130 people and we have ended up with 176 from more than 20 organisations. The interest has been immense.

"It has been done in Oxfordshire first because we have had an example of a particularly nasty honour killing and we have identified the need to work in partnership and raise awareness."