Ministers are planning to give teachers and other third parties powers to protect children from being forced into marriage, according to reports.

The Times newspaper said on Friday that local authorities, women's rights groups and social workers were among the organisations which would be able to take legal action to prevent the marriages.

Under the measures, a third party would apply for a marriage protection order from the courts requiring those involved to stop the marriage.

It would be a criminal offence to breach the order, punishable by a jail sentence or a heavy fine.

A Ministry of Justice document leaked to the paper said: "An application made on a victim's behalf allows the victim to be one step removed from the court proceedings.

"Victims may feel unwilling or unable to take action against the perpetrators who may be members of their family."

The consultation paper said there were "many people and organisations that support victims of forced marriage".

"There are voluntary and charitable organisations dedicated to offering support and assistance to forced marriage victims," it added.

"They often work closely with local communities and offer frontline practical support."

Bridget Prentice, the under secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice, said: "This is really vital work.

"When you look at the situations some of the people affected by forced marriages will be in, it is clear that not all of them will be able to apply personally to the courts for protection. And some victims might not want to take court actions against members of their own family."