IT is with a mixture of horror and disbelief that we learn that murdered youngster Carly Bateman was only one of a band of child prostitutes on the streets of Bolton.

Around a dozen girls aged between 13 and 17 -- all in the care of the local authority -- are regularly offering men sex for cash.

The situation has come to light after Carly's naked body was discovered in a back alley in The Haulgh, just a walk away from the town centre.

Some of these young prostitutes need the money to feed their drugs' habit.

Heartbreakingly, some do not. Instead, they are looking for some form of affection, often because they have been starved of this in their young lives.

In a sick twist, some of these young girls build "friendships" with the men involved. They are bought presents, including mobile phones, so that they can be contacted at any time.

In this sad web of self-deceit, the girls are persuaded to do "favours" for the man's friends, and introduce other girls to the men.

Today, what ordinary, decent people in this borough will be asking is what can be done, and quickly, to get rid of this child prostitution. And how to prevent other youngsters suffering Carly's fate.

Bolton Prostitution Forum is constantly working to improve the situation. In the last 12 months, Bolton Council had an application for Government cash to bring in new measures for the Red Light district turned down.

Social Services staff and police officers are aware of what is happening, and are also doing their best. But determined teenagers are hard to curb, in care or just at home.

Perhaps the focus instead should be on the paedophiles -- because there is no other name for these men -- who skulk around our town centre streets and elsewhere looking for vulnerable youngsters.

The law is there to protect our children. And the law is specific: adults who have sex with children should be prosecuted and punished.

Bolton is a community which prides itself on being law-abiding, yet the law is being regularly flouted by a band of men who see themselves above legality.

We owe it to the youngsters whose childhood is stolen -- and to the memory of a young girl who could have been anyone's daughter -- to stamp out this shaming child prostitution. And as soon as possible.