A senior police officer has expressed his frustration at the lack of evidence linking claims that Asian men are involved in illegal sex with white girls in their early teens.

Keighley Police divisional commander Superintendent Mark Whyman said few girls had come forward with evidence despite interviewing 27 of them.

The investigation was sparked by reports from mothers that their daughters - aged between 13 and 15 and under the age of sexual consent - were being used for sex by Asian men.

The alleged offences included rape, unlawful sexual intercourse and enticing the girls into a life of prostitution.

Supt Whyman said: "We need girls to come forward with evidence but this is not happening.

"Many of the girls don't see themselves as victims but as the men's girlfriends."

He stressed he did not see the problem confined to the Asian community and that grooming girls for sex was endemic.

And leading members of Keighley's Asian community agreed the issue affected all parts of society.

Mohhamed Amin, of the Sangat Community Centre, said: "This is part of the law and order breakdown that has taken part in Keighley over the last 12 months."

Saireen Khanum, founder of The Asian Link UK (TALUK) and Our Voice organisations, which campaign around the problem of forced marriages, said: "The problem is men tend to pick up young girls outside schools for sex because young girls are naive. That's why we have teenage pregnancies, and this happens in all races.

"I don't agree these men go only for white girls. They also target young Asian girls.

"I went to school in London and this used to happen there with all races. It's just a man thing.

"In my experience most Asian men who have relationships with white women end up settling down with these women. They may not marry them but they maintain very strong links with them."