IPSWICH Borough chief Liz Harsant today spoke of her pride at the town's response to the tragedy of winter 2006 - and she revealed how a strategy to eradicate street prostitution had reaped huge reward.

IPSWICH Borough chief Liz Harsant today spoke of her pride at the town's response to the tragedy of winter 2006 - and she revealed how a strategy to eradicate street prostitution had reaped huge reward.

Council leader Mrs Harsant said: “The work still goes on, but we should be very proud of what we have achieved so far.

“We previously identified more than 100 active street workers - now we have just two persistent girls who are on the streets.

“That work must carry on.”

She said the community had not sought to judge the victims, instead sympathising with their desperate plight.

Mrs Harsant added: “The media, and The Evening Star in particular, should be congratulated, as should the people of Ipswich who have been so resilient throughout the whole 15 months.

“It's been a really worrying time for our community but it has always been a non-judgemental stance, which has been really wonderful.

“Everybody recognised that these girls were caught up in addiction. They realised how easy it can be for young people to fall into this dreadful trap of drugs and having, somehow, to feed that habit.

“Hopefully we can move on, and I hope the families can move on, too.”

Mrs Harsant said the Somebody's Daughter appeal, of which she is a trustee, had been well supported and would soon be pushing ahead with plans to open a refuge.

“The appeal is looking for a safe house for vulnerable young girls, girls who perhaps leave care who are not currently looked after by society,” she said.