The Home Office has failed to protect British women and teenage girls forced into abusive marriages by granting their foreign husbands visas, charities have warned.

Officials dealt with nearly 90 cases of victims trying to block visas last year, although almost half were still issued, data obtained by The Times shows.

Women and girls are being physically and sexually abused by the men whose cases go unchallenged by authorities, charities say.

One group said some immigration officials were "turning a blind eye" amid concerns over cultural or religious sensitivities.

A Home Office source says it "categorically denies" the allegation.

Figures released under Freedom of Information laws showed the Home Office had received 175 inquiries about victims trying to block spouses' visas last year.

Of these, 88 became full cases, which included direct requests from victims, known as "reluctant sponsors", requests from third parties or instances where an official suspected a forced marriage.

The women had been forced to marry men in countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.