PROSTITUTES who blighted a North-East town for generations have turned their attentions to a neighbouring community.

Police in Middlesbrough have been tackling the problem of prostitutes and kerb crawlers for years but, after a recent blitz on offenders, many have now moved to Thornaby, three miles away over the River Tees.

It is thought that up to 60 girls and women are plying their trade on the Bon Lea industrial estate and the Mandale Triangle area of the town.

Retailers, customers and residents say prostitutes are openly touting for trade during daylight.

Some businesses on the Bon Lea estate say that seconds after male customers leave their stores, girls are approaching them.

This week, Cleveland Police were meeting other agencies, including social services and community drugs teams, to discuss the scale of the problem and how best to tackle it.

Councillor Stephen Smailes, Conservative leader at Stockton Borough Council, said that Thornaby residents were shocked at the brazen nature of the prostitutes.

He said: "The police have been successful in Middlesbrough in dealing with this problem, but unfortunately they have moved to the other side of the river. We now need police to be successful here.

"We cannot have these people touting their wares in daylight. At least when they were in Middlesbrough they only came out at night.

"When they were over the border they were on derelict waste land - they are now doing it in front of businesses.

"Nationally, there have been calls to legalise certain establishments where they can carry out their work.

"Maybe it's about time we seriously looked at this."

Workers on the Bon Lea estate say it is only in recent weeks that the problem has escalated.

One worker, who did not want to be named, said: "It isn't something that is hidden away - you see it from about 4.30pm onwards.

"I have had male customers walk out of the store, and before they get to the car they are approached by one of these girls."

* This week, the Stockton group Panic - Parents and Addicts Against Narcotics in the Community - called on Home Office Minister Robert Ainsworth for funding to set up a rural residential unit to get girls off the streets and into drugs rehabilitation programmes.