A council will be the country's first to issue on-the-spot fines for people caught using prostitutes.

Following a public consultation in March, Redbridge Council has introduced £100 fines for those caught soliciting sex workers.

The move is a bid to crack down on the trade in Ilford Lane.

Between 50 to 60 per cent of the men who use prostitutes in the area are thought to live in Redbridge

Las weekend police officers arrested two people and issued a 48 hour dispersal order to 24 others.

Extra night police patrols throughout the weekend, additional enforcement officers, improved lighting, gating alleyways and installing CCTV are other measures put in place to make Ilford Lane a more "hostile environment for offenders."

Cllr Jas Athwal, leader of the council, said: ‘We want to clean up Ilford Lane for good and we are working closely with the police and our partner organisations to put a stop to the illegal activity in the area.

"Through improved lighting, additional enforcement officers and police patrols in the area we can disrupt and put a stop to it.

"We are getting tough on crime and want to create a ‘ring of steel’ around the borough to protect our residents and make Redbridge a better place to live."

The fines will start being issues from the end of August.