DRIVE-THRU brothels for men to pick up prostitutes have been hailed a "great success" by officials in Zurich.

Leaders in the Swiss city spent over a million pounds building the "sex boxes" after 52 percent voted in favour them in 2012.

3 The boxes, which look similar to garden sheds, were set up by the Zurich council Credit: AFP - Getty

Zurich government spokeswoman Nadeen Schuster told USA TODAY the area was "effective in preventing violence against sex workers and human trafficking".

The wooden shacks are now workplaces for dozens of prostitutes.

The structures, which look like a garden shed, were set up by Zurich city council.

They were built in an industrial area of the Swiss city after residents got fed up with women plying their trade on street corners.

3 Credit: AFP - Getty

The boxes are fitted with an alarm so prostitutes can contact the police, if needed

3 Motorists can drive along the route while prostitutes wait in the shelters along the roadside Credit: AFP - Getty

Drivers – who must be alone in their vehicle – can access the site to pick up prostitutes.

They enter along a marked route while women wait in shelters along the roadside.

Once a woman has been selected and a price has been agreed, they drive together to one boxes.

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Each box was fitted with an alarm which allows the prostitute to contact police if they feel threatened.

Officials believe the boxes – which cost £1.4million to build – will ensure the safety of prostitutes as well as keeping them away from the streets.

Prostitution is legal in Switzerland and sex workers pay a tax of five francs a night to ply their trade.

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