Vice girls in York are peddling their wares on the Internet, the Evening Press and thisisyork can reveal today.

The women, often working under false names, offer their services with details of prices and descriptions of their personalities.

The Evening Press tipped off North Yorkshire police officers after seeing the site, which also gives lewd details about sexual encounters and rates the alleged York brothels in which they work.

The stories, posted on the Internet site as recently as a week ago, give evaluations of the girls' performances alongside prices, duration of encounter, contact details - and even parking arrangements.

Police say a clampdown by forces in West Yorkshire on sex crime may have led to a "displacement" of users into the York area.

Some of the working girls are charging as much as £2,000 a day for "companionship".

Many of the encounters detailed on the site took place in the afternoon at both parlours and private residences around York and other parts of the county.

Women appeared to be charging anything from £40 to £250 for the sessions which were said to have lasted as long as two hours.

Some of the users claimed to have had unprotected sex with the women.

There are also stories about threesomes, including a couple who sell themselves in other parts of Yorkshire.

Superintendent John Lacy said that acting on information about alleged brothels had a long "validation process", involving the council and depending upon the strength of the evidence.

He said police acted swiftly where there was evidence of the degradation of the area or where the girls involved were at risk.

"The police are always vigilant about any persistent complaints likely to affect the quality of life in this city," he said.

"But violent crime and burglaries are our priorities."

A brothel on Nunnery Lane was raided last year, and police have also taken other action to clamp down on the sex trade in the city.

The website claims to be "The Online Guide to Adult Personal Services in the UK".

Information on the site said it was "created to facilitate the exchange of information on prostitution in the UK.

"Here you will find information on where to find services, what to expect, legalities, etc.

"You will be able to read reviews of encounters with working girls and submit your own "field reports".

And it encourages "All interested parties to participate - prostitutes as well as their customers."

The site also features a top 20 of working girls - but none from the North Yorkshire area feature.

When the Evening Press contacted one of the advertised numbers, and asked if sex was for sale, a female who answered the phone said it was, for £50.

Updated: 14:05 Monday, January 22, 2001