Two brothels have been raided and closed after hundreds of stickers advertising a “massage” service were spotted.

The illegal prostitute houses, both in High Road, Leytonstone, were shut in a joint operation last week by police and Waltham Forest council.

The operation was sparked by the discovery of stickers offering a “massage” service on lampposts in the High Road.

Officers then tracked down the landlords of the properties who may now lose their licences.

Labour councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader of Waltham Forest council, said: “The reassuring thing for residents is that not only have we closed down these brothels, but we have put in motion provisions to ensure they don’t return.

“One of the landlords of the properties we raided actually owns 111 other properties in the borough.

“He is now well aware of the problem of his flats being sub-let for this purpose.

“Our landlord licensing scheme means that we can now take away his licence and stop other landlords renting properties if they do not take the necessary steps to ensure they are not being used for criminal activity.

“It’s this joined up approach that allows us to come at these sorts of problems from all the various angles to make sure the problem is solved and not just moved on or temporarily disrupted.”