PROSTITUTES in Middlesbrough are increasingly plying their trade on residential streets because they are afraid of being attacked in remote areas, police said yesterday.

The town's vice girls traditionally touted for business in the industrial area of St Hilda's, but many are now soliciting outside family homes, a meeting of Middlesbrough Council's crime and community safety panel heard.

Caroline Walls, an officer with Middlesbrough police's vice unit, said the murder of prostitute Vicky Glass and the recent disappearance of Rachel Wilson had made many girls afraid of working in deserted places.

"The prostitutes feel safer in the residential areas," she said.

"They feel that if they work close to residential areas, if they are attacked and they shout, they will be heard."

She said cameras on roads such as Union Street gave prostitutes a sense of security because their movements - and those of potential attackers - were being filmed.

"The thought of being caught by police and fined doesn't really put them off working there," she said.

But she said their presence, and that of kerb crawlers, caused major problems for residents.

Officers have recently applied for anti-social behaviour orders on prostitutes who frequent residential streets.

Almost all prostitutes working in the town - 111 at the last count - are addicted to heroin, crack cocaine or both.

The number of child prostitutes, those under 18, in Middlesbrough has decreased recently but men seeking underage sex are still visiting the town.