A new internet site advertising prostitutes' phone numbers has had a mixed response from politicians.

The web site was launched by the owner of a lap dancing club who said it would help cut the number of cards left by prostitutes in Brighton and Hove phones boxes.

Kenneth McGrath, millionaire owner of Pussycats club in Hove, has called on the city council and Sussex Police to back his service.

Mr McGrath said: "We believe this will help reduce the number of phone box cards which cause considerable offence to the public and particularly families with young children."

The site was welcomed by Hove Labour MP Ivor Caplin, who campaigned to make the practice of displaying cards in phone boxes punishable by up to six months in prison or a £5,000 fine under a law introduced last month.

He said: "I welcome this new adult entertainment guide, the expressed aim of which is to move advertising out of phone boxes and on to the internet, where it has less of an effect on the environment.

"I have always said I understand the need for prostitution and have never condemned the profession.

"Rather, I was concerned with the effect that carding in phone boxes had on our environment and young people.

"This new web site and the legislation will help to reduce the incidence of telephone box carding which causes considerable offence, particularly to families with young children."

But Councillor Paul Elgood, leader of the city council's Liberal Democrats, said he was "horrified" by the site.

He said: "The police had found it difficult to enforce the law on prostitutes advertising in phone boxes until the law was changed to make it an offence last month.

"As a result, many of the cards have now disappeared from city's phone boxes but it seems Mr McGrath has discovered a loophole.

"I would now like to see the law changed to make it illegal for prostitutes to advertise on the internet.

"One of the main complaints about cards in phone boxes was that they were offensive and could be seen by young children.

"Most children have internet access these days and will still be able to look at this kind of material."

Superintendent Graham Cox, second in command of Brighton police, said he had not seen the new site but police were determined to keep public phone boxes free from cards.

Supt Cox said: "We are not naive enough to think that prostitution does not take place in the city and there are subtler ways of advertising than in phone boxes.

"We will continue to prosecute people who put these cards in public phone boxes."

A council spokeswoman said: "We have a policy of not endorsing the sites of other organisations and we shall not be endorsing this one."

Prostitutes employ "carders" to tour the city putting their adverts inside boxes in prominent positions such as on the seafront, Western Road and near Brighton station.

Seven carders have been arrested under the new law.

One was fined £50 for the new offence of placing prostitutes cards in phone boxes.

Another was given a 12-month conditional discharge for the same offence.