TEN men who have been caught kerb crawling in Blackburn's red-light district are due to be visited at home by police.

The move is part of a summer-long purge aimed at clearing the streets of men using prostitutes in around the Bank Top area.

Police decided to act after local businesses and residents complained about the vice trade in the area around Montague Street and Canterbury Street.

During the purge the police are targeting the kerb crawlers instead of the prostitutes with a number of hard-hitting measures.

Police patrols are being increased and video cameras are being used to gather evidence for prosecutions. Eight women from across Lancashire have already been arrested for soliciting and loitering in the first week of the crackdown and 12 warning letters have been sent out to the homes of suspected kerb crawlers warning them that they could be arrested if they are scene in the area again.

Brightly-coloured signs are on display in the areas affected warning potential kerb crawlers of the police operation.

Inspector Judith Finney is helping to organise the campaign. She said: "We are determined to send out a clear message that this sort of behaviour is simply not acceptable.

"I have already had to deal with several phone calls from the wives of men who have received letters from us at their homes.

"We will be sending out more letters as well as visiting people in their home."