A police chief has told of his determination to bring alleged child abusers before the courts.

Keighley police divisional commander Supt Mark Whyman spoke out as the town's MP claimed the alleged "sex-ring" of Asian men grooming under-age white girls for sex and prositution is much bigger than has been reported.

Ann Cryer's office revealed that it has more than 60 names of men, who are alleged to have lured girls -- some as young as 11 and 12 -- to have sex with them.

The information was released after controversial claims were made by Mrs Cryer that the traditional Asian culture and arranged marriages are responsible for sexual assaults on girls in the town.

According to her office, it has a list of more than 60 men involved and one worried mother said that her 13-year-old daughter had had sex with 56 of the men on the list.

Yesterday the Keighley News was given exclusive access to the list, which gives the real and nicknames of the men and addresses.

Supt Whyman said police had been investigating allegations since last February after complaints from various sources, including two schools in the town.

Bradford social services has also been involved in the inquiry, which saw 15 girls interviewed.

In July a further 12 were interviewed. The range of offences included rape, unlawful sexual intercourse and enticing the girls into a life of prostitution.

So far a 25-year old man from Lawkholme, Keighley, has been charged with two counts of rape on a 13-year-old girl, and a 17-year-old youth has been charged with outraging public decency.

But Supt Whyman said he did not think there had been any systematic exploitation of young girls.

He said: "We are investigating despite the difficulties of this situation. We will be collecting evidence and pursuing inquiries. I want these people to be aware that these offences are serious and that they could end up on the sex offender's register with conditions on their movement.

"I am determined to prosecute offenders.

"This is basically child abuse and I would like to appeal to witnesses and victims to come forward. We need complainants so we can take this further. I want to re-assure people that they will be dealt with in a sympathetic and caring way."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 01535 617059.

Chief executive of Keighley's Sangat Centre, Khadim Hussain, said the problem was not a recent one. He said: "The problem recently came to light but I understand it has been on-going for the past ten years. It has not just started happening now.

"I was contacted by Ann's office a couple of months ago and youth workers have recently met with me to discuss it. It is a collective problem that we all need to work together to solve."

Parents worried about the problem of widespread sexual abuse in Keighley recently met with Home Secretary David Blunket to demand action. But Mrs Cryer says that she has been trying to address the problem for the past 18 months, when she says she first approached the police and Asian community leaders.

Mrs Cryer anticipated the accusations that she was "demonising" the Asian community but said she had to risk offending some people for the sake of protecting more young girls.

She added that the law-abiding majority of the Asian community would also feel horrified that Asian men were targeting young white girls for sex and prostitution.

Mrs Cryer said: "These young men are caught between two cultures. They are brought up in Western society and can see their peers entering into relationships with young women.

"Many will be promised to brides, normally a first cousin, in an arranged marriage."

Mrs Cryer's office said this meant that to have casual sex, the men had to look outside their own culture and found it easy to target young white girls, enticed by their money, cars and gifts.

Mrs Cryer said the crimes went unreported, either because the young girls perceived the Asian men to be their boyfriends and were "madly in love" or through fear of reprisals.

Mr Hussain added: "I think Ann Cryer's comments imply that the Mirpuri community are all to blame. I believe that research would show this isn't a race issue. There are instances of Asian on Asian or white on white attacks. It is not unique to Asian culture.

"Let's not forget these young men are second and third generation -- they are British, if anything the culture they are immersed in is Western culture. The problem is a social one and no civilised society should tolerate such behaviour. It is utter nonsense to suggest that this is a cultural issue, it stems from social problems."

He said: "I think the real issue is drugs. Some of these young men are involved heavily in drugs. It is a vicious circle and they are attracted by the financial benefits. They are using flashy cars and preying on the vulnerable. We should be looking at why the system has failed them or why they have dropped out of the system. Most of them have no skills and have been driven into a drug culture and this "seducing' of young girls".