FAMILY and friends of loyalist terror chief Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair have left Bolton after trying to seek sanctuary in the town.

Up to 25 people close to the Ulster terrorist stayed in a Bolton hotel.

They were seeking refuge, fearing reprisals following in-fighting among loyalists in Belfast earlier this month.

They fled when their home in Lower Shankill, Belfast, was attacked.

A woman in the group said yesterday: "We are looking to stay here." But today it emerged that the group has now left the Greater Manchester area.

Police were carefully monitoring the group.

Adair has been in and out of jail since being sentenced to 16 years in 1994 after pleading guilty to directing terrorism. He was released in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement.

Yet in August 2000 he was jailed again when he allegedly stirred up rivalry among loyalists.

In May 2002, he was released on licence but he was recently returned to Maghaberry prison when the Government thought he was likely to commit crime.

Adair's family and friends fled Belfast, however, following the execution of Ulster Defence Association commander John Gregg, who was shot dead when he returned from a Glasgow Rangers football match.

Among those who fled were Adair's wife, Gina, his three children and friend John White. They caught a ferry from Belfast to Carnryan and headed for Scotland.

They moved south to Bolton, but have now moved on again.

Bolton Council's housing department confirmed that the Adairs had applied for accommodation in the town.

A spokesman said: "We are liasing closely with other Greater Manchester authorities and the police and it's very unlikely they will be accepted for re-housing here." Adair, who has a fierce reputation as a terrorist, headed the Ulster Freedom Fighters' C Company which is suspected of killing more than 20 Catholics during the 1980s and 1990s.

He was believed to have been the target of an IRA bomb which killed 10 people in October 1993. There have been 13 attempts on his life.

He is due to remain in prison until January 2005.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We were aware they were in the Greater Manchester area but they have now left."

Bolton Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth said : "As far as the situation in Northern Ireland goes we, like many boroughs, have been united in our wish to live in peace in harmony with our neighbours. I'm not going to get worked up about it. We have more important things to worry about like the budget and car parking."