I AM writing in response to 'Realist' (Citizen letters, March 11), and his claims that Britain, compared to our European neighbours, are still living in the Victorian era when it comes to street girls.

I would like to point out that sex is not something which should be sold, nor bought, by anyone.

God gave us this as a gift for men and women to enjoy and appreciate in consummation of their marriage.

The person who titles himself as 'Realist' is very much misled, and does not value the fact that women are people and that they should not have to have their bodies for someone else's pleasure in this way.

Regardless of whether or not society makes this practice legal, anyone can see it is immoral.

Understandably, a woman may fall into this, perhaps, desperate situation, for example, having children to feed, a marriage break-up, or trouble with drugs or alcohol.

Prostitution enables her to earn badly-needed money quickly. But to have to display herself in a shop window - as 'prostitutes do in Amsterdam, and 'Realist' suggests - is even more degrading than ever.

Mr J A Smith, Hanbury Street, Ashton, Preston.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.