ANTI-VICE campaigners say Swindon should follow Liverpool's lead and look at creating an official red light zone.

Councillors in Liverpool are voting today on whether to seek approval for the country's first tolerance zone for prostitutes.

Street girls work in the city suburbs, and the idea is to move them to a non-residential area. The city council is expected to vote in favour of the plan but would still need Home Office backing.

And campaigners at Street Watch would like to see Swindon follow suit.

John McCue, who runs the group's fight to rid Broad Street, Manchester Road and County Road of vice, wants a 12-month pilot scheme set up.

"People have been fighting this problem for 20 years, and it's time for something radical," he said. "The problem would be getting the girls to go there, but anything is worth a try. We talked about this a couple of years ago, but we came up against a brick wall. Now it's time to try again."

The idea was raised again in the autumn by Michael Dickinson (Con, Central), who has welcomed Liver-pool's stance. "I'm glad to see people thinking radically about this, and other councils should be doing this too including our own," he said.

"If it doesn't work then so be it, but let's not rule anything out."

Coun Dickinson wouldn't be drawn on where such a zone might be located, but said it would need to be away from houses. He would also want outreach drug and health workers to operate in the area.

Inspector Ian Bamber of Swindon police, who covers the town centre, didn't rule out backing a pilot area.

But he said a full consultation with Swindon Council and local people was needed.

Recently, Swindon Council and the police have taken out ASBOs banning prostitutes from red light areas in the town.

Tamash Lal