Gay people and people with disabilities were among those being forced into marriage over the last year, according to new figures.

A helpline has received 75 calls since new laws on forced marriage were enacted in Scotland in November last year.

More than 5% of the calls to the Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage line concerned people being pressured into marriage because they have a physical or learning disability or because of their sexuality, officials revealed.

In addition, the UK Forced Marriage Unit has dealt with a further 66 instances of forced marriage across the UK involving those with disabilities.

Ten cases in the past year centred around victims identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Those from the LGBT community might be coerced into marriage because their families mistakenly believe "marrying off" their son or daughter to a member of the opposite sex will mask their sexuality or make them heterosexual.

The figures emerged as a campaign was launched to raise awareness of forced marriage among vulnerable groups. Peter Scott, chief executive of the learning disability charity Enable Scotland, said: "People who have a learning disability, like everyone else, have the right to develop personal relationships, including marriage.

"However, they also have the same right to protection as others from the coercion and abuse of human rights associated with forced marriage."

A spokesman for LGBT Youth in Scotland said: "Sadly, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people can experience emotional or physical coercion to marry, sometimes because of stigma and discrimination surrounding LGBT identities.

"Pressuring someone into marriage is never okay.

"Everyone should have the right to choose whether, who and when they marry, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation."

Legislation came into force on November 28 last year to protect people in Scotland from being married against their will.

Courts can issue protection orders which, if breached, could carry a two-year prison sentence. The campaign, funded by the Scottish Government, urges people at risk of forced marriage to visit yourrightscotland.org or call 0800 027 1234 for help and advice.