Picture posed by models Brothels are "socially necessary" and help protect women from sexual attacks, according to a UKIP candidate in Medway.

The Medway Messenger revealed how adverts for seemingly innocent "massage parlours" are a cover for a seedy underworld of paid-for sex in the Towns.

These brothels can be found anywhere - from quiet residential streets in Rochester to Gillingham High Street. They are advertised in the Kent Regional News group's Medway News title. The KM Group does not accept such adverts.

The Messenger has asked general election candidates how they would tackle the issue.

Steve Newton, parliamentary candidate for UKIP in Chatham and Aylesford, said he would look into legalising brothels under the condition they were only located in commercial, rather than residential, areas.

Mr Newton said: "The services that they offer are socially necessary, otherwise I believe there would be a lot of other sexual crime.

"I am completely against any form of slavery but not against those women who voluntarily want to provide that service."

But Tracey Crouch, Tory candidate in Chatham and Aylesford, said: "There is no such thing as safe prostitution and the real victims are the young women who get forced into prostitution and are often trafficked into it from abroad."

See Monday's Medway Messenger for a full report.