A WOMEN'S group which runs a special project for 'working girls' has welcomed a website advertising Preston's sex trade.

The site, available free of charge, contains explicit information and contact numbers for prostitutes, massage parlours and escort services. It bills itself as 'a quick and easy guide to punting in Preston' and encourages users to write reviews of 'services' for the message board and swap information in a chat room.

Bosses at The Women's Centre, in New Hall Lane, have called for more innovative work to be done to cut violent crime against prostitutes and they say the website may help.

The centre has a special time-slot dedicated to street workers on a Wednesday and provides the services of a doctor and solicitor once a week.

Chair of trustees at the centre Julie Humphry said: "Sex workers are vulnerable to attack. It's a very dangerous way to make a living.

"The areas they work in should be monitored by CCTV, not to reveal the punters' identity, but if a violent crime is committed then there is evidence.

"The website may be another way of making the streets safer. Prostitution is never going to go away."

Meanwhile, special constables have been trained to deal with kerb-crawlers and will be patrolling red-light districts and making arrests as part of Operation Kerb.

Chief Inspector Whyllie, who heads the operation, said: "We receive more complaints about street prostitution than we do for particular establishments.

"We try and monitor the internet as well. There will be a meeting of all divisions to discuss street prostitution in the near future."