A TORY councillor last night called for Swindon Council to look into and tackle a hidden problem of young male prostitutes working the town's streets.

Coun Doreen Dart warned that female prostitutes may be a more visible and high profile problem, but she is convinced that young men are also being lured into the sex trade.

She spoke at the cabinet meeting as councillors discussed a report aimed at tackling street prostitution.

The report followed research by Swindon rehabilitation charity, Druglink, which revealed that girls as young as 14 are selling their bodies to fund drugs.

Most of the debate was focussed on how the council and other agencies could help young women make alternative choices to help them move away from prostitution.

But Coun Dart (Con, Blunsdon) said: "Can we also look at the problem of so-called rent boys? I'm sure they exist in Swindon and it is something we ought to have research on."

Co-ordinator of the Swindon crime and disorder partnership, Miriam Minty, said she would look into the size of the problem in the town.