TOUGH action on kerb crawlers and sending prostitutes through rehabilitation has brought about a massive drop in prostitution in Blackburn, police said today.

Officers believe the number of women working on the streets of Bank Top, traditionally the town's red light area, has halved.

Last year just 14 men were arrested for kerb crawling, compared to 37 in 2003. And so far this year six women have been arrested for touting for business on street corners, 15 less than during the same period in 2004.

In 2003 and early 2004, many residents and business people of Bank Top were complaining that prostitution was getting out of control.

Prostitutes were accused of tarnishing the town's image by touting for business in King Street, yards from a gateway welcoming people to Blackburn.

In June police warned that anyone caught kerb crawling could lose their driving licence.

No one has been banned from driving but police believe regular patrols and threat of tough action has been a strong deterrent.

A project run by the town's community safety partnership that aims to help prostitutes by offering treatment and education to get them out of a life of vice has also been hailed a huge success.

Sergeant Rachel Hanley, in charge of town centre policing, said: "The situation does seem to have improved, and some of the factors that have contributed to this are enforcement and referrals to other agencies."

A public meeting for Bank Top was held on Friday night in St Luke's with St Phillip's Church, Hancock Street, and prostitution was a hot topic.

But opinion seemed to be divided on whether the situation had improved. A resident of Bridgewater Court said: "I must admit the police have done very well and the prostitution has stopped."

But others said the problem was as bad as ever. One resident of Pleasington Close said: "The situation has not improved. My 17-year-old son has been propositioned three times and that is wrong."