POLICE are urging Chorley residents not to become vigilantes amid fears that paedophiles are being rehoused in the town.

One concerned resident told the Chorley Citizen: "It has been brought to my attention that paedophiles are wishing to move into the area as they are afraid for their safety in their present locations."

The woman, who wrote in anonymously, said she had just learned that one paedophile had been placed in a Chorley council flat.

But Steven Lomas, head of housing at Chorley Borough Council, said the resident's claims were not true.

"There is no programme for relocation of paedophiles in council housing," he commented.

He added: "The council understand people's concerns about it and are very sensitive about it in the community. It is a very, very emotive issue."

The author of the letter -- signed "a very concerned resident and mother", went on: "How are we as parents expected to keep our children totally safe when we are left in the dark?

"We need to know, not so we can take matters into our own hands and physically attack them, but so we can have a say in whether we are willing to live in the presence of child molesters." Police appealed for residents to stay calm.

A spokesperson said: "We would urge members of the public not to take matters into their own hands.

"We certainly wouldn't condone any vigilante activity. If residents have concerns they should take it up with the appropriate authorities."

She added: "Members of the public should be reassured that known sex offenders are monitored by the appropriate authorities and subject to certain restrictions."

But she asked residents to be vigilant. "If a member of the public does think an individual is committing an offence they should contact the police," she said.

The head teacher of a primary school close to the flat named in the letter said he was not aware of a paedophile problem.

"Nothing has been said to me. I would have hoped in such a case the school would have been given the correct information, but we have had no concerns from parents," he said.

The concerns in Chorley come just days after a paediatrician who lives near Newport, South Wales, suffered an attack on her home.

Vandals daubed the word "paedo" on 30-year-old Dr Yvette Cloete's house, after misunderstanding her job title.