RAW emotion ruled a packed public meeting in York last night.

Residents living near a probation hostel in Boroughbridge Road were angry and afraid. Angry that the rules had changed to allow convicted criminals - including paedophiles and murders - to be housed at the former bail hostel on their way back into society; angry that they had not been informed of the changes. And they were afraid for their children because the hostel's residents are free to wander between 7am and 11pm each day.

The Government changed the status of the hostel, close to a primary school, on January 1. Only a handful of neighbouring residents were informed.

The Evening Press highlighted those changes to stunned readers more than two weeks ago and the sheer tide of feeling from residents forced two public meetings yesterday.

North Yorkshire probation service which runs the hostel, the city's MP Hugh Bayley and local councillors last night faced a storm from the hostel's neighbours.

The Evening Press had been criticised by the powers-that-be for carrying out its public duty and reporting fully on the changes and the fears of residents. We were accused of insensitive timing so soon after the Soham murders; it was felt our reports had increased the fear of crime in the area.

Last night the paper was vindicated by the turn-out at the meeting, by the probation service's responses to residents, and the concessions won.

The probation service, which even criticised our reports at the meeting, apologised to the people. They had got it wrong, they said, they should have kept more people better informed. They would do much better in future, they pledged. They would keep people up to date with any developments.

But they also opened up to the public - short of admitting that paedophiles were currently housed at the hostel - explaining procedures and security. They promise to liaise with the nearby school and consider altering curfew hours for some offenders.

Police promised to consider security patrols by special constables and the councillors pledged to investigate the possibility of warden patrols.

Hugh Bayley left the residents in no doubt that the Government would not close or move the hostel. They were not happy, but at least they were now informed and their strong representation had won some assurances.

Without the Evening Press publicity the issue would still be lurking in the shadows, the hostel's neighbours would not have had an opportunity to ask questions and express their views. Even the nearby primary school would still not know about the hostel's new status.

We shall continue to risk criticism to keep our readers informed on important issues.

Updated: 10:33 Friday, September 27, 2002