Patrols are to be stepped up in part of the city following a rise in reports of sex workers operating in the area.

Police have received an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) linked to sex workers in the Rosary Road area and have vowed to tackle problems with an increased officer presence.

Superintendent Dave Marshall, Norwich policing commander, said: 'We have seen an increase in the reporting of ASB and the presence of sex working in the area of Rosary Road in the last few weeks.

'We do actively work with partners including the Matrix and Magdalen Project to support sex workers in getting themselves out of the industry. However, there is also a need to enforce when divisionary activities fail to reduce the impact on the local residents and community.

'As a response we have tasked an increase in operations to tackle sex working and target those in the area.

'Hopefully over the next few weeks, as the operations and increased presence are felt, the issue will decline.

'We will look to take positive action against those identified in order to reduce the impact of individuals on the wider community.'

Lesley Grahame, a Norwich City councillor for Thorpe Hamlet ward, has urged people in the area to report incidents to police.

She said: 'It doesn't guarantee action but a lack of reports guarantees a lack of action. I'm hearing from police that there are more patrols, but I'm not hearing this from residents.'

Mrs Grahame also called on people to contact her about problems in the area as they had called for this to be made a priority issue for the neighbourhood in the past.

To contact police about anti-social behaviour, call 101.