Residents of Old Harbour, St Catherine, are concerned about an increase in prostitution in the town, with women selling their services for as low as $300.

What has made the development even more serious, the residents claim, is that some of the women are of unsound mind.

THE STAR has learnt that several areas in the community are being used by the women for their trade.

The availability of the women is said to have also caused an influx of men, travelling to the community to get their 'freak on'.

One man said: "I went to the station to buy gas, the girl came up, 'yu doing business, not gas business a talking sar. A flesh mi a sell, yu can get $300 wut'."

A female resident said with the increase in hookers, it was difficult for ordinary women to go about their business in the community at nights without being approached by sex-hunting men.

"Yeah man, dem want to beat out the town man. Dem mek woman look cheap. If you walk on the road with a bag, people tink you a di same thing," a woman said.

Some persons, however, told THE STAR they understood that economic difficulties and unemployment had forced these women to be involved in prostitution.

"One woman tell mi say she sell all $35,000 fi di night...," a resident said. "If dem get work then you would not have to come out."

When THE STAR visited the area a number of scantily clad women of all shapes and ages were seen soliciting customers.

When contacted, the police said that they were aware of the situation and were putting plans in place to deal with it.