ONE call had last night been made to a special helpline since the trial of an alleged child sex exploitation ring began at the Old Bailey on Monday.

Nine men, aged between 24 and 38, are accused of targeting and grooming young and vulnerable girls in Oxford before giving them drink and drugs and selling them for sex.

The defendants deny all 79 charges including rape and trafficking.

Oxfordshire County Council launched the hotline on Monday for anyone affected by the issues raised in the case.

The accused are Kamar Jamil, 27, of Aldrich Road, Akhtar, 32, and Anjum Dogar, 30, of Tawney Street, Assad Hussain, 32, of Ashhurst Way, Mohammed Karrar, 38, of Kames Close, his brother Bassam Karrar, 33, of Hundred Acres Close, Mohammed Hussain, 24, of Horspath Road, Zeeshan Ahmed, 27, of Palmer Road, and Bilal Ahmed, 26, of Suffolk Road, Maidenhead.

The court did not sit yesterday as Judge Peter Rook attended a funeral.

The case is expected to resume today.

Call the confidential hotline on 01865 266255.