KERB-crawlers have been given a festive warning by police tackling prostitution -- Yule be caught!

Officers have joined forces with council bosses to launch a new crackdown after it was revealed their get-tough policy had led to a reduction in the problem in the Bank Top area of Blackburn.

Earlier this year, police revealed how both prostitutes and their clients were coming from across the county to red light districts around Blackburn town centre.

Although the police believe their crackdown, which included writing to people seen cruising around known red light areas and arresting people caught with prostitutes, was a success, they are now turning their efforts to stopping people making the journey at all.

Since April, nearly 200 letters have been sent to the owners of cars seen driving around the area in a suspicious fashion.

A further 44 people have been arrested and charged with kerb-crawling.

More than 50 prostitutes have been arrested for soliciting on the streets as well, although police say the long-term way of getting rid of the girls is to cut off their customer base.

A series of radio adverts have now been aired, backed by the Crime and Disorder Partnership in Blackburn with Darwen, a council-police group.

A spokesman for the police said: "What the adverts point out is that if people are caught, their fingerprints and DNA are taken and, if convicted, they could face being named and shamed in the press."

Girls working as prostitutes are also arrested and residents have reported a reduction in the problem since the clamp down began.

Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with Darwen Council's member for Community Safety said: "The issue of prostitution and kerb crawling has been raised in a number of areas by our residents as a problem that needs addressing.

"The police and council are working with the local community to try and stamp out this problem.

"Many people don't realise that it is not just the working girls that can face prosecution, but also the men who pick them up.

"The radio ads are just one way we have been working to raise awareness of the clampdown and alert men that they could be prosecuted.

"Police have been working on enforcement to ensure that people know prostitution and kerb crawling will not be tolerated."

Chief Inspector Tracey O'Gara said: "We have been acutely aware of the problems around Bank Top regarding prostitutes and kerb crawlers for some time now and most of our enforcement activity has been focused in that area.

"This can either be police officers patrolling in high visibility uniforms as a deterrent or plain clothes officers.

"We have had some considerable success and as the drop in number of men frequenting Bank Top now shows the message that kerb crawling will not be tolerated is now getting through."