CHILDREN as young as 14 sell their bodies to get money for drugs in Swindon. And practically all prostitutes working on the streets of the town are addicted to crack cocaine or heroin.

The first survey of its kind has provided a shocking insight into the lives of the women who sell sex on the streets of the Broad Street area of Swindon.

Rehabilitation charity Druglink interviewed 14 prostitutes aged between 17 and 29. All of them said they work the streets to buy money to feed crack cocaine or heroin addictions.

Many said they work to support two drug habits their own and that of a partner. Three said they became involved in the sex trade at the age of 14, one at 15 and four at the age of 16.

Half the women interviewed said they worked on the street because they were homeless and could see no other way to make money.

When asked what would help them get off the streets, all 14 said access to drug treatment.

They all said they were unhappy with their lives and one said she was on the verge of suicide.

Prostitutes Ellie Belcher, 21, and Leanne Goldsmith, 20, appeared in court earlier this year charged with soliciting.

Miss Belcher had previously spoken about her efforts to change her life away from prostitution and drug addiction.

She said she was frequently hit by her customers and once badly beaten up.

When asked what drew her back to the red light district she said: "I need money for heroin. I've been on it since I was 15."

The Druglink survey reveals the women spend between £40 and £60 a day on drugs.

They all said they did not feel safe.

Druglink worker Helen Melton says in her report: "They have no life skills or qualifications in normal living and would need to learn and to be trained.

"The women felt their employment prospects were poor."

Borough councillor for central ward John Taylor (Lab) has welcomed the new survey.

He said: "Now that we know all of these 14 are driven by a hard drugs habit then it gives an extra focus to improving the drug programmes run by Druglink to try and wean these people away from this lifestyle."

But Les Horn, chairman of Broad Street Residents' Association, said he was dubious about the effectiveness of work by groups like Druglink.

He said: "Whilst they are doing all this these people are still on drugs and they don't seem to be having much success with the situation.

"I'm afraid they are fighting a losing battle, once they are on these drugs there doesn't seem to be any way off.

"As far prostitution is concerned we are sick to death of it and it doesn't seem to be getting any better."

The new report will be presented to the Swindon Council's cabinet when it meets at the civic offices tomorrow night.

Councillors will be asked to support moves by the council Drugs and Alcohol Team (DAAT) to offer increased choices to help women move away from prostitution.

DAAT has also commissioned a wide-ranging survey by academics at the University of Bath into the extent of the Swindon drugs problem.

They are expected to report their findings in October.

Druglink was today unavailable for comment.