Fewer prostitutes in towm's red light areas

Statistics released by the organisation, which works with women to try to get them out of the sex trade, state the number has fallen by 79 per cent over five years.

Streetreach boss Trudy Hannington said its staff has managed to help a third of prostitutes out of the business this year, and estimates the problem it is now down to a hard core of around 40 women who are addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.

Police say they are tackling the problem by arresting both prostitutes and kerb crawlers.

Ron Cookson, of the campaign group Residents Against Street Prostitution, which was set up to campaign for action in the Thorne Road area, said residents' experience supported the figures.

He said: "We're not seeing as much activity as we used to, but the attitude of RASP members is that one prostitute on the streets is too many.

"At one stage you would see five or six prostitutes operating every night. Now the worst scenario is four a week.

"I think recently the police have been doing a very good job, but we would like to see more prostitutes and kerb crawlers who are caught going to court."