A reduction has been recorded in the number of child prostitutes working on the streets of Middlesbrough but a welfare worker is calling on people to remain vigilant.

Wendy Shepherd, who runs the Barnados SECOS project (Sexually Exploited Children on the Streets), working with young prostitutes, in Middlesbrough, said: "I think we are making steady progress, we are seeing a reduction in numbers on the streets.

"But we have got to remain vigilant because prostitution and exploitation can be very hidden."

Ms Shepherd who will this week address a conference on prostitution, in Middlesbrough, said there is no room for complacency, following the success of multi-agency initiatives to tackle the problem.

"We don't see as many under 15 prostitutes as when we started. We just need to be aware that young people can be put at risk," she said.

"We need to be casting our net wider and looking at work we need to do with young men and boys, Internet chat rooms and porn sites."

It was Ms Shepherd's groundbreaking idea for Barnardos to go into Middlesbrough secondary schools and warn young people of the perils of prostitution.

"We have done some sterling work in schools where a lot of young people, not necessarily involved in prostitution, but concerned about what could happen, are talking to each other,'' she said.

She will be joined on stage at the University of Teesside on Thursday by Sara Swann, of Barnardos, and the university's expert on Internet's dangers for youngsters, Dr Alistair Gillespie.

The panel will be chaired by author, journalist and visiting professor Bea Campbell.