COMMUNITY leaders in Ipswich have spoken of the shock and anxiety sweeping the town in the wake of the deaths of the three prostitutes.Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Liz Harsant, said it was “terribly concerning” and the general feeling in the town was quite fearful.

COMMUNITY leaders in Ipswich have spoken of the shock and anxiety sweeping the town in the wake of the deaths of the three prostitutes.

Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Liz Harsant, said it was “terribly concerning” and the general feeling in the town was quite fearful.

But she said the authority was trying to put measures in place to make people feel less nervous.

These included meeting with police to ensure there was a major presence in the Portman Road area of the town last night.

She added: “We are trying to get the shuttle bus to take staff to the Portman Road car park where they park now so they are not put under any pressure to walk from here to the car park.

“We are helping the police in every way we can, with CCTV footage and the use of the building.

“The message is not to frighten people but to ask people to be safe and sensible at the moment.”

The Reverend Andrew Dotchin, vicar of Whitton, said the murders of Miss Adams and Miss Nicol were the “only topic of conversation” in Ipswich.

Rev Dotchin, who knew Miss Nicol said: “I think there is a great deal of concern that a serial killer is at large.

“It is the only topic of conversation in the pubs and so on. People are very worried.”

“There is a sense of concern for our town, a sense of concern for the girls that are still on the street.”

The Rev Dotchin said he came into contact with Miss Nicol about two years ago.

He said: “She was one of a number of youngsters who used to gather near the church. That was how I got to know her.

“My impression was that there was an older man who was grooming her for this kind of work.”

“For the little time I knew Tania I got a sense that she was a girl who was frightened about how her life was going to turn out.”

The vicar said local authority and church workers offered regular support and help to prostitutes.

One Ipswich prostitute, who refused to give her name, said: “It's terrifying. We're trying to stick together and work in pairs as much as possible.

“But everyone's very scared. Nobody wants to do this but some of us have to. We can only hope they catch him real quick.”