CHILD refugees are begging for cash on Bolton's streets.

Two girls -- aged five and seven -- were discovered by police officers "helping" their 45-year-old aunt to plead for money in the town centre.

Shoppers have also been approached by a woman in her 20s carrying a baby. Police said they were all from Romania.

The news comes at a time when police report that more beggars than ever before are being reported on Bolton's streets.

The sight of children pleading for money has shocked both police and shoppers.

Chief Supt Don Brown, head of Bolton Police, said: "Begging is a public nuisance. It is exacerbated when people are prepared to abuse children in this way.

"We will take robust and appropriate action if this happens again in Bolton."

There are 1,400 refugees in Bolton. The borough council offers accommodation, emergency food and other services for new arrivals.

John Lord, the council's head of community housing services, said: "When refugee families arrive, we make it clear to them that begging is not acceptable in Bolton.

"We provide all the assistance and advice we can.

"There are six or seven other voluntary organisations helping refugees as well. We have always had a good response from members of the public."

Christmas shopper Steve Hollingsworth, who was approached by the begging refugees near the Market Hall, said: "It was one of the most pitiful sights I've ever seen.

"I've come across men and women begging in Bolton before, but not children. It's like going back to Victorian days."

Police questioned the refugees with the help of an interpreter and discovered they were staying at addresses in Bolton and Manchester.

They had been begging outside Boots in Mealhouse Lane and a shopper had reported them to officers.

The police gave the women advice about looking after children and warned them against begging.

Police also informed Bolton's social services department and contacted Refugee Action, a support network for refugees.

A police spokesman said: "The children were dressed in warm clothing and they looked fit and well. They did not look as though they had been badly treated."

A spokesman for Refugee Action said: "It is not clear whether these people were refugees receiving help from the National Asylum Support Service.

"They may not have been getting any support. Those refugees that do receive help get a weekly payment of just £37.77, which is 30 per cent below the poverty line.

"A recent report by Oxfam said that 85 percent of refugees experience problems making ends meet."

Bolton MP David Crausby said he was saddened by the news that children were begging in the town's streets.

He said: "You see a lot of this sort of thing in London but not in towns like Bolton. Nobody should take their children begging. It doesn't matter who they are.

"Adults who do should be picked up and dealt with straight away in the interests of the children."