IT may be one of the world's oldest occupations but prostitution has become a menace on streets around the Bank Top area of Blackburn.

Local residents and traders are angry about kerb-crawlers around the Whalley Banks end of King Street close to the recently rebuilt St Wilfrid's School and the obvious dangers they pose to women.

Now, following complaints about how Blackburn's image is being tarnished at one of the much vaunted gateways to town, police and magistrates plan to co-operate in hitting the problem at its cause.

In a groundbreaking move courts will be asked to revoke the driving licences of men caught kerb-crawling on the grounds that their vehicles are being used to commit crime. Offenders will also be named and shamed after being identified through the use of high-tech equipment to read number plates.

This tough and innovative move should be welcomed.

It highlights the real seriousness and nuisance of kerb-crawling which until now has hardly been recognised by the courts - or society in general.

As we've said before, no amount of action by law enforcers will ever be able to make prostitution disappear.

But what they can do is get it off our streets where it disrupts and poses real risks to the lives of law-abiding citizens.