TAMSIN has been a prostitute for five years - but her parents still don't know what she does.

She has survived an attempted murder and suffered severe beatings by punters.

Tamsin (which is not her real name) is one of around 15 girls working the streets of Blackburn in what is a dangerous job on a normal night.

But she said the murders in Ipswich have sent shockwaves of fear throughout the local call-girl community.

The 28-year-old said women currently working the streets are afraid for their own safety and are now taking extra precautions.

The street worker, who has been working around the Bank Top area of town to earn enough money to fund her £100-a-day heroin and crack habit, said: "We are all really frightened because we know the murderer, who is targeting prostitutes, could have moved on now.

"We are all trying to be extra vigilant and look out for one another.

"The girls are all talking about it.

"We try to make sure we stay in well-lit areas and look out for one another.

"We live in supported accommodation, which is staffed 24-hours-a-day, so they monitor when we go out and when we come back.

"I have been beaten up and hit by clients who have turned nasty because they've not wanted to pay, but the worst thing to happen to me was in April.

"A man picked me up in a taxi, said he was taking me to the outskirts of Blackburn but actually took me to his home where he bolted me in. He kept me hostage all night and tried to kill me.

"He put a drawstring bag over my head and tried to strangle me and held a screw driver to my head.

"Finally he let me go in the morning but the whole night I was just thinking, this is it now, I'm a gonner.

"It's not a nice job but it's the only way I can earn enough money to fund my addiction.

"As soon as I've raised enough for a score I go home but I go out again when I need another."

Police in the town say extra emphasis is being put on safety with Operation Eton, run by Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety Partnership, tackling street prostitution and kerb crawling.

And in the wake of the Ipswich murders Black-burn police say prostitutes working in the area will be given personal attack alarms to help keep them safe on the streets.

Town centre sergeant Rachel Baines, who works with the town's prostitutes, said: "We want to get across the safety message but at the same time we don't want to frighten people.

"The girls are all aware of what has happened in Suffolk and are keen to take extra security pre-cautions.

"We have purchased 450 personal attack alarms that are being given out to all the street workers and any other vulnerable women.

"We tell street sex workers to take steps to increase their safety such as trying to ensure they work in bright, well-lit areas.

"We advise that when working they do not listen to a personal stereo through headphones, so they can stay more alert to their surroundings.

"It is important that someone knows where they are and that they look out for each other and stay within sight of each other.

"We ask that they make sure they know what vehicles their co-workers are getting into and to share information with each other.

"They should also let each other know if they are not happy with someone.

"We advise them to text a friend to let them know where they are going and who they are going with."

l Any woman requiring a personal attack alarm is asked to call in at Blackburn police station