Swindon Borough Council is to launch a bid for Government cash to tackle prostitution in the town.

At last night's cabinet committee meeting, councillors agreed to approve a bid for £43,354 from the Government's Tackling Prostitution What Works? fund.

The council is hoping for a cut of a £500,000 Home Office initiative which was launched in September.

The aim of the initiative is to identify measures to reduce crime and disorder problems associated with prostitution.

These funds are intended to kick start the development of models of good practice which can then be used country-wide in the future.

The bid will be submitted by the Crime and Disorder Partnership, a multi-agency group comprising police and councillors.

In Swindon's bid, the cash will be used to fund a three pronged approach.

This includes tackling problems experienced by residents in the Broad Street area, carrying out an environment assessment in conjunction with residents of the area to identify a range of measures which can help to reduce prostitution activity in the area.

The second part of the scheme is to establish a joint project between Druglink, Stepping Forward and the Area Child Protection Committee to address the issue of children working in the sex industry. The groups are already working in this area and the extra funding will enable them to expand the work they perform.

The extra funding would also be used to promote the range of support services available to those working in the sex industry, including outreach work that is currently being undertaken from the NHS walk-in centre in Carfax Street and the project run by Druglink, Stepping Forward and the Area Child Protection Committee.

Coun Derek Benfield (Covingham and Nythe, Lab) said: "I welcome these proposals very much. There has been a lot of work that has gone on in the area but much of it is just a short term fix.

"This will be a good long term measure and I recommend it to all of you."

And Coun John Taylor (Central, Lab) also supported the scheme.

After hearing Crime and Disorder Coordinator Miriam Minty outline the report to the cabinet, he said: "I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the Broad Street residents.

"These people can now see that the council is determined to address the misery caused by prostitution in their area and I am sure they will welcome what we have heard."

Residents in this area of Swindon have complained of finding used condoms in their gardens and threats from pimps.

Chief Inspector Nick Maslen of Swindon police admitted to the Evening Advertiser that prostitution was a problem in Swindon.

He said: "We have to try and break the cycle, as there is a problem with child prostitution in Swindon.

"Better street lighting and pavements will make an area less appealing as a place to trade."

The Home Office will reveal successful bids on December 1.