BOLTON prostitutes in the town's "red light" district are risking their lives offering unprotected sex -- for just £5.

A special BEN investigation has revealed that some girls offering sex on the streets are undercutting rivals and risking catching AIDS in a desperate bid to feed their drug addiction.

Now there are fears that the prostitutes' price war may create huge health risks for the women themselves and the "punters" who kerb crawl for sex.

A police spokesman said: "We have been told that some of the younger girls who are new to the scene are offering unprotected sex for between £5 and £10.

"I still find it shocking that despite all our efforts there are stories of prostitutes offering unprotected sex. The risks of catching infections, hepatitis and even AIDS is great.

"People are literally dicing with death. The danger is that it is not known if the girls have any sexually transmitted disease or whether the punters have for that matter.

"There is the scenario whereby a girl goes with several men and the man contracts a disease which he then passes on to his wife or partner. The whole thing snowballs."

One prostitute told the BEN that some women were offering unprotected sex at "cheap" rates as they walk the streets in Bolton's "red light" area around Shiffnall Street, Breightmet Street and River Street.

She added: "The girls who have unprotected sex for just £5 are risking their lives."

The potentially deadly cut-price sex business comes despite huge efforts by the police, health authority and council to offer health facilities to the town's sex workers.

Free condoms and health advice are available to prostitutes from a special mobile unit which visits Bolton's red light district once a week.

Bolton police patrols are continuing to regularly tour the area in a bid to clamp down on kerb crawlers and prostitutes.

Last October police launched a special crackdown -- codenamed Operation Dressage -- which saw 10 people charged with loitering for the purposes of prostitution. A total of 20 other men received official cautions.

Police reported 12 men for alleged kerb crawling offences and the files were passed on to the Crown Prosection Service.

Today Cllr Frank White, who heads up the Crime and Disorder partnership, said: "We're trying to build bridges of confidence with the women and through that make them aware of the health issues.

"That will in turn help develop self respect and responsibility for others and maybe the possibility of a different type of lifestyle."