A Bradford escort agency has come under fire from applicants who paid to register - then claim they have heard nothing.

City Escorts advertises for men and women to act as escorts, and potential new recruits are then visited at their home by Chris Osborne.

He collects the £30 "portfolio creation fee" - and they claim that is the last they see or hear from him.

Divorcee Janet Barrett, 53, and her 27-year-old daughter answered his advert, had a visit from him and each paid him £30.

"I thought it would be a good way of getting out and meeting people and earning a bit of extra money at the same time," she said.

"He did actually ring me and give me the number of a client but when I rang the man, I didn't like the sound of him and cancelled.

"I haven't heard from Chris Osborne since and nor has my daughter.

"He told me he worked for a man who had an escort agency in Manchester and he was sent to Bradford to expand it."

Three men, who all asked not to be identified, contacted us after replying to the advertisement, having a visit from Mr Osborne and paying him the fee.

One said: "I asked him where you were supposed to go on these assignments and he said two of the big hotels in Bradford.

"He said there was plenty of work about and there were always women going to conventions who wanted to go out to the pictures or for a meal.

"But something wasn't right so I cancelled the cheque. I just wonder how many other people have paid him £30 and had the same experience."

Another said: "My phone calls and letters are not answered.

"Naturally I am disappointed at not being offered any work but my real concern is with the fact they appear to be doing nothing."

The third man said: "He phoned me once saying he would make two appointments for me but I have never heard anything since. I have left a number of messages but with no response."

The City Escorts contract they all signed states: "We the agency are here to give you, the escort, a complete and authorised service at all times."

At the bottom of the first page is the statement: "City Escorts operate in accordance with Trading Standards guidelines. For details of these guidelines, contact your local Trading Standards office."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Trading Standards said: "Neither we nor the Office of Fair Trading have issued any guidelines for escort agencies. I would be interested to see any guidelines Mr Osborne has from any trading standards department anywhere.

"We are not aware of this agency - but people may be too embarrassed to complain if they feel they are not satisfied with their treatment."

The address on the City Escorts contract is a Bradford PO Box number which Rights and Wrongs traced to a terraced house in Spring Place, Great Horton.

When we called round yesterday, we found the house was divided into bedsits - and Mr Osborne had moved out about a week ago leaving no forwarding address.

The student who answered the door said: "He was here for about six months - I knew he ran something from his room but I didn't know what."

The phone number on the City Escorts contract is unobtainable and efforts to contact Mr Osborne were unsuccessful.

Rights and Wrongs would like to hear from anyone else who paid money to him or who knows where he is now.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.