Fed-up publicans in Bradford's red light district today welcomed a new scheme which aims to get kerb-crawlers to change their ways.

The scheme, exclusively revealed in Saturday's Telegraph & Argus, aims to offer kerb-crawlers an alternative to prosecution.

Traders said that the revolutionary project, run by the West Yorkshire Police Authority, would hopefully reduce the number of men who plague areas of the city, including Thornton Road and Listerhills.

But many felt it was only a small step forward and would have little effect on the widespread problem that was destroying their businesses.

David Haigh, chairman of the Bradford Inner-city Licensees Association and landlord of Haigy's in Lumb Lane, said that many pubs had a huge problem with prostitutes and clients.

" I don't think it will help just targeting the kerb-crawlers as the prostitutes will still be there," he said. "There used to be a problem in Lumb Lane but it doesn't seem to be there anymore.

"An awful lot of the licensees in Thornton Road are having terrible problems and I think that they would welcome any scheme that tried to help."

Kerb-crawlers will be offered the chance to pay for a place on the scheme rather than go to court and they will hear talks from former prostitutes and families of other kerb-crawlers.

Derek Graham, landlord of the Black Swan in Thornton Road, said that kerb-crawlers were driving customers away.

"We did a survey for the police and found there were often up to 30 cars kerb-crawing an hour.

"The scheme sounds a good idea but it's not enough to make a dramatic improvement."

Julie Dunnachie, landlady of Scruffs and Snobs in Listerhills Road, said: "It is a good idea but the prostitutes are always going to be there.

"As long as there are girls on the street, there will be men who go to them. At least something is being done but it's still terrible round here.

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