A 16-YEAR-OLD girl spotted offering sex for sale in Bolton's red light area was taken off the streets by the police -- after she was reported by older prostitutes.

The teenager was surrounded by other anxious vice girls in the Shiffnall Street area who then called a police patrol to have the teenager removed from the district.

The prostitutes rang the police to prevent the young girl becoming involved in the town's seedy sex industry.

And today a police spokesman confirmed it is the first time that prostitutes have contacted officers in the town to have an under-age girl removed from the streets.

He added: "From what I can gather the girls held on to and surrounded this girl and then called the police.

"From talking to the women on the streets the vast majority would never want to see any children or their children down there doing what they're doing. In the past girls have told us about punters who are asking for young girls and they have passed details of car registrations on to us.

"But this is the first time that I'm aware of girls contacting us to have a girl taken away."

Under current legislation, anyone below the age of 18 who offers sex for sale is deemed to be under-age and can be afforded special protection.

Due to her age, the youngster will not face criminal charges and a Bolton Police spokesman insisted she would be treated as a victim rather than an offender. Bolton Council social services managers have also been contacted in connection with the incident which occurred last month.

It is understood the youngster still lives with her parents but is now being monitored and supported by social services staff.

A social services spokesman stressed that reported incidents of under-age girls offering sex for cash were still very rare.

She added: "Any youngster involved in this would be treated as a child protection issue. We see any child being involved in such things as a form of abuse. We would take immediate pro-active action."

Youth service personnel can also be involved in offering support as well as educational staff and, if needed, psychological or psychiatric help.

Cllr Frank White, chairman of the crime and disorder partnership, confirmed he had been made aware of the prostitutes' attempts to protect the youngster.

He added: "The adult women are co-operating with us to remove any under-age girls.

"Just recently, as a result of publicity in the Bolton Evening News, the girls themselves got hold of a youngster and eventually the social services were called in.

"I think that's a reflection of the bridges we're building with the women. They don't want to see kids being forced into doing this."

Evidence that young girls are taking to the streets to sell sex for cash comes in the same week that the BEN revealed career women -- including a nursing home worker -- are also working the red light district.

The probe into prostitution also revealed that some women are risking catching AIDS, offering unprotected sex for just £5 in a bid to undercut rivals and earn cash for drugs.