A march took place through the centre of Oxford on Saturday evening as dozens of women took a stand against domestic violence.

The all-female Reclaim the Night march started at Gloucester Green, and scores of women turned heads as they chanted slogans and waved banners on their way through the city centre to East Oxford.

Following the march, more than 100 people attended a rally at East Oxford Community Centre in aid of the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre.

Organisers said the event was designed to show that domestic violence is still a problem, and to highlight the range of services available to victims of harassment.

Clare Cochrane, 37, of the Oxford Reclaim the Night group, said: “Reclaim the Night is about women asserting our right to walk safely in the streets at night and to make it clear that women are never responsible for male violence against women.

“I think it was effective. We raised a lot of awareness and a lot of people were asking what we were marching for, including men.It was also an empowering experience for all the women taking part.”

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