A controversial playwright has launched a society to persuade people to say: "I don't".

Brian Behan, brother of the late Irish writer Brendan Behan, plans to campaign against marriage because he believes it enslaves people.

He said: "Marriage is a most dangerous occupation for women and men. It is ridiculous to expect a person to fulfil the changing needs of another for more than 50 years."

Mr Behan, who has been married twice, decided to launch the society after a spat with feminist Germaine Greer on a live television show.

He claims to have about 20 society members from his circle of friends and former colleagues but wants other men and women to join to convince couples to live together rather than get married.

Morale Yesterday, Margaret Brown, who sits on the Church of England's ruling body, the General Synod, condemned the group as abhorrent. Widow Mrs Brown, who lives in Mayfield, near Crowborough, said: "Marriage is absolutely paramount in a moral society but people need to work at it without turning to the easy get-out option of divorce."

But Mr Behan, who lives in Albion Hill, Hanover, Brighton, claims the group had a serious role in modern society.

He said: "Figures state that one woman dies every three days as a result of domestic violence. Surely there is no better reason to be against marriage."

Some members of the society plan to dress as undertakers and hand out death certificates to newlyweds as they emerge from their weddings.

The playwright left his first wife Celia in 1974 to live with his girlfriend Sally Hill. The couple lived together for 14 years before marrying at Brighton Register Office in August 1988. Mr Behan formed the society after Sally, who he described as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, died at Christmas.

He said: "I think children need a secure and loving relationship with one or two people and whether they are married or not is irrelevant."

Mrs Brown said yesterday: "A sexual relationship outside marriage is fornication if the person is single, or adultery if they are divorced."