A campaign has begun at Westminster to prevent the closure of a Sussex safe house used to protect teenagers at risk from human trafficking gangs.

We revealed in May that West Sussex County Council was considering axing the unit, which is based in a secret location.

The six-bed unit operates from two semi-detached houses leased to the council in a suburban street.

It was set up three years ago to protect to girls aged 16 and 17 who had travelled to Britain alone and were at risk of being "sold" as sex slaves.

Council bosses are considering plans to replace it with a training and support package for carers so the girls can be looked after in the wider community.

Now MPs with an interest in children's rights have called on the council to think again.

Labour MP Hilton Dawson has tabled a motion in the House of Commons and is hoping for widespread support.

He said: "There is evidence of several hundred children being brought to this country in recent years to be abused through prostitution somewhere in the UK and Europe.

"We are alarmed at the lack of information about children in such circumstances arriving at other UK ports and deplore the planned closure of the West Sussex safe house."

Mr Dawson, MP for Lancaster, wants the Government to research the numbers and situation of all children being trafficked into the UK.

He also wants tough sentences for those involved and says the safe house should remain open until the racket has been stopped.

Since the safe house was set up, the numbers of young people assessed as being at risk of trafficking on arrival in West Sussex and those of young people who have then disappear, have fallen from 23 in 1999 to three in 2002.

Social services bosses believe it may be better to close the house and provide a service to anyone under 18 at risk of being trafficked.

A West Sussex County Council spokeswoman said: "There is no intention to remove protection and support from child victims of trafficking. We intend to make it more flexible and build on the progress we have made."