POLICE will visit kerb crawlers at their homes as part of a shock new radical bid to cut Burnley's vice trade.

Men looking for prostitutes around the Duke Bar area will have their registration numbers traced.

Officers will then turn up on their doorstep to give the culprits a stern warning.

Insp Mark Baines, from Burnley Police, said the aim was to shame offenders into changing their ways.

Officers on horseback will be out patrolling the notorious red-light district along Colne Road every night. They will set up formal and covert stop check areas and will be seeking to bring persistent offenders before the courts.

But lesser or first-time offenders could find themselves getting a doorstep visit from officers.

The move to drive out street prostitution from the town has been stepped up after residents raised concerns with police.

Insp Baines, Burnley geographic inspector, said: “The public have told us they do not want street sex workers and kerb crawlers blighting their neighbourhoods, which is why we have launched this dedicated operation.

“It is not right that people should have to live with this kind of activity taking place outside their houses.

“Over the next few weeks, people living in the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme areas can expect to see more police officers on the streets as we work towards tackling these issues and improving the quality of life for the local community.”

Police said the problem was concentrated in the Duke Bar area.

When kerb crawlers receive a home visit police will first establish they were the person driving the car.

They will not reveal the reason of their visit to family members who answer the door.

Insp Baines said: “I would ask kerb crawlers to carefully consider the consequences of their actions.

“They should be warned they face arrest, charge, a hefty fine or a prison sentence. We may even visit them at their homes.”

As part of the crackdown, police are working closely with Burnley Community Safety Partnership, the Primary Care Trust and other support agencies working to reduce the number of women taking to the streets.

Insp Baines said: “We find that many women have become sex workers because of drug and alcohol dependency issues and our partnership work addresses that.

“With this help and support our aim is to offer these women a route out of their current lifestyle, enabling them to turn their backs on prostitution.”