HIGH-level talks are set to take place between council chiefs over prostitutes who have been plaguing a residential area in Burnley.

Residents say street workers have been blighting Hebrew Road in Daneshouse and kerb crawlers have been loitering just yards from their homes.

Now Coun Shah Hussain is taking their concerns to a town hall meeting with community safety head Bill Brindle.

Coun Hussain, who represents the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward, said: “This has been a constant problem – first in Colne Road and Thursby Road and now in Hebrew Road.

“The problem has moved from one area to another but we need a long-term solution.

“Residents have been complaining and action has been taken from time to time. But it seems that we are not really tackling the issue.”

The councillor said that he had also received complaints regarding Pheasantford Street and Cobden Street in the past.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "The problem has been going on for years and we are not going to tolerate it for much longer.

"The prostitutes have been moved on but they always come back."

Coun Brindle said: “A great deal of work has been done by local police and other agencies to address kerb-crawling.

“This includes enforcement action, extra police patrols in affected areas.

"This is aimed at catching offenders as well as to address the causes of prostitution.

"This work has been ongoing and we will take action on specific problems."

Last October a three-year multi-agency strategy, offering help and assistance to street workers, instead of criminalising them, was launched in Lancashire.

In Burnley police, NHS East Lancashire and Burnley Council have co-ordinated efforts under the Triangle project.

Prostitutes are to be offered help with any social, drugs or alcohol problems they had and kerb crawlers offered the chance of a conditional caution, and a three-hour education course, rather than a criminal record.

Insp Muz Patala, who heads up the country strategy, said: “Historically tackling prostitution has largely been about enforcement, displacement and short-term success.

“This co-ordinated multi-agency response is a three-year strategy with a long-term approach.”