The government has said that the prostitution laws are set for a major overhaul.

Ministers at the Home Office are reviewing current statutes which were last changed five decades ago.

It was revealed on Tuesday that the government will "consider all the available options, no matter how radical".

Action is being taken to take on organised crime and drug traffickers which run much of the sex trade.

Ministers also want to deal with the perennial problems at local level of pimps and kerb-crawlers.

Part of the review will also look at the legislation on brothels and soliciting which were last reviewed in 1954.

Schemes in Australia, where brothels are legal in some states, will be considered by ministers.

Some senior UK police chiefs have called for "zones of toleration" to be created.

"We think the time is right for sensible debate on the issues arising from prostitution which are numerous and complex," said a Home Office spokesman.

"We are continuing to so work to scope the issues. We want to do a thorough job as this is the first discussion of these issues for over 50 years. We hope to publish as early as possible next year."