Vice girls flocking to lorry drivers

Prostitutes are flocking to quiet areas of South Staffordshire, touting for business among lorry drivers forced to park up in the street following the closure of a popular truck stop.

Up to 3O women are taking taxis to Featherstone, Essington, Westcroft and Gailey where truckers are parking up for the night.

The areas have been plagued by hookers before but since the closure of Cannock Road's Night Owl truckstop last week, it is claimed the girls are cashing in on the large groups of drivers who are sleeping in lay-bys.

Staffordshire police Inspector Steven Kenny said: "We are aware of the problems and there is an operation in place to try and address the issue."

It is believed most of the women are from Wolverhampton, who have been forced out of their usual haunts such as All Saints and Horseley Fields after being given antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos).

But with no committed vice patrols in the leafy areas of South Staffordshire, residents say they are being allowed to roam free.

One man, who lives in Westcroft, said: "We see the girls all the time. They walk up and down the main road and parade themselves around for all to see.

"We moved out of the city to get away from this kind of thing. It is not what you expect out in the sticks."

Last year members of parish councils in South Staffordshire met to discuss the problem. They hoped for more police patrols and for bushes to be cut back, but they fear the closure of the Night Owl could attract even more working girls to the area.

Chairman of Essington Parish Council David Clifft said: "The area on the A460 has always been a magnet for prostitutes but now that drivers are having to park in near-by lay-bys in residential areas, the women have followed.

"The problem is not just during the hours of darkness, girls can been seen plying their trade throughout the day."

Developers hope to create warehouses on the site of the truckstop but a planning application was turned down by South Staffordshire District Council.

By Becky Sharpe