MUSLIM leaders called on Home Secretary Jack Straw last night to help clean up a town's vice problem.

Representatives of Middlesbrough's Asian community met borough council leader Councillor Ken Walker and officials in a continuing appeal to rid the town centre of prostitutes.

Mehdi Mobeen, chairman of the Islamic Society, said last night: "We have started the dialogue. We have to look at the problem and how we can deal with it within the constaints of the law.

"What we need is support from Jack Straw and provisions in law to tackle this problem and deal with it more seriously.''

Asian community leaders met council representatives at the town hall for 30 minutes yesterday - the second day of Ramadan, the month-long period of fasting and biggest event of the Muslim calendar.

A further meeting will be held next week, probably in the mosque which is on the vice girls' beat, in Southfield Road, Middlesbrough.

A council spokesman said: "We fully understand their worries and concerns. We are working as quickly and closely with the police to stop this problem.

"We already use the courts and anti social behavioural orders and a range of options to try and solve this problem.

"The Home Secretary has issued guidance to councils and we will certainly be finding out when we can use these new powers.''

As reported in The Northern Echo last week Superintendent Graham Strange, chairman of Middlesbrough's prostitution task force, is calling for kerb crawlers to lose their driving licences - and their cars.