Discarded condoms, used tampons and law-abiding locals heckled by kerb crawlers - that is the reality of life in Preston's red light district according to residents and traders.
Business owners and workers around Fletcher Road told the Lancashire Evening Post they are left to clean up the remnants left by street sex workers.
The community's frustration is summed up by a resident who simply says: "Deepdale was once classed as the proud home of Preston North End. Now it is just known as a red light zone. Where is our pride?"
The 51-year-old woman, who did not wish to be named, continues: "I'm for supporting the girls because I know they have issues that have culminated in them working on the streets. But, at the same time, I'm against it when I know that it is making life a misery for residents.
"The city should be treating the area as more of a priority – why should residents in Deepdale have to tolerate this?
"I do appreciate these women have problems but they should not be allowed to encroach on residential areas.
"A few years ago there was a major crackdown that improved life for residents – but it seems to have picked up again and the girls are encroaching on to residential streets which simply isn't fair."
William Carroll, 81, has lived in the area for 20 years.
He says he was not surprised by the recent revelation that up to 50 women were working on the city's streets.
He recalls: "Other residents have said some of the girls can't be more than 15. They are there nearly every day.
"Sometimes they have accosted me. Over the years we have become used to them, but we still don't like it."
An elderly neighbour, who has also lived in the flats for 20 years, adds: "I don't think about it any more. It's just become accepted. Nobody has done anything to move them.
"I just close my curtains on them."
A 59-year-old sales assistant at a hairdressing supplies firm says: "We have to sweep up condom wrappers each morning, but usually it's worse on a Monday because of the weekend. We suspect one of them keeps using our car park as a toilet.
"If we lived here we would complain but we can go home at the end of the day.
"They are out in the day and there's usually a couple of girls there at 7am when we get in. You haven't even had your breakfast – it's a bit off-putting.
"They don't usually bother anyone, but the punters sometimes ask our customers if they are doing business which is very intimidating.
"It hasn't driven our trade away, however, a couple of female customers won't walk here now and come here in their cars instead."
Read the rest of this feature and see the second part of our special report on sex workers in Preston in Wednesday's Lancashire Evening Post.>> Take part in our survey on Preston's sex trade>> More women are selling sex on Preston's streets>> Vote in our latest web poll
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