A new research project has been set up in Bradford to discover more about men selling sex in Bradford.

Men's health charity Yorkshire Mesmac is funding research assistant Patsy Hudson, 35, of York St John College, part of Leeds University, for four months to discover the size of the problem in the city.

"There is an awareness that there are prostitutes in Bradford, but with women involved, and that is an assumption that needs to be questioned," said Patsy, who is studying for a masters degree in psychology.

"Less is known about the extent to which boys and young men are involved in selling sex. As a result the services that offer support, advice and information to sex industry workers in the area are targeted at women.

"This project has been set up to discover more about the specific needs of young men in the business and to produce recommendations about the development of services that they might want."

A steering group has been set up, made up of West Yorkshire Police, Bradford Social Services, Mesmac and the city's innovative Barn-ardo's Streets and Lanes project, to advise and support the project.

"I hope to speak to young men and boys involved in the industry, although in four months I will not be able to track everyone down," said Patsy.

"But I am hoping to get a broad picture. It is going to be really interesting and also quite daunting. It is difficult because I don't know if there will be anyone for me to find and on the other hand it might be an issue that is bigger than anyone anticipated.

"Also because there is a stigma attached to anything that is not 100 per cent heterosexual people may be reluctant to talk about it."

The work has the backing of other agencies in the district.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "Barnardos, the Police, health agencies and the Council's Youth Service and Social Services Department have agreed to work together with Yorkshire Mesmac to investigate the issue of male prostitution.

"We hope that this research will determine if there is a problem in the district. The research will then help us tackle any issues identified.

Patsy would like to talk to any man who is, or has been involved in selling sexual services for money or anything else, in the Bradford area. This may be men working in saunas or massage parlours, on their own, on the street or in escort work.

Contact Patsy at Bradford Mesmac, PO Box 267, Bradford, BD1 5XT. Confidentiality is guaranteed.