Two men and two women have been arrested in connection with the prostitution of several under-age girls, broadcaster Nos said on Thursday.

One client has also been arrested, the broadcaster said. The girls are said to be around 15 years of age. The minimum age for prostitution in the Netherlands is 18 but the justice ministry is working on proposals to increase this to 21.

The arrests were made in Heerlen and Geleen in the far south of the Netherlands earlier this week. The adults are said to have dealt with the clients, placed adverts and taken clients to the girls. Telephones, laptops and two fake guns were also seized by police.