Road signs warn kerb crawlers

Kerb crawlers are being warned off the streets of Bristol

New road signs in a Bristol red light district are warning men against looking for prostitutes.

About 20 men arrested for seeking sex in the city's Eastville district after are now likely to go before magistrates after national police pressure on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to take tougher action.

The crackdown coincides with growing anger over kerb crawlers along the Fishponds Road in Eastville.

Campaigners say their lives are made a misery by prostitution and many are scared to go out at night.

In the past, kerb crawlers have received only a caution, without going to court.

But now a change of policy by the CPS means even first-time offenders are likely to be charged and taken through the courts.

In the past week two prostitutes have been attacked in Eastville - two men have been arrested.