OUTRAGED York parents have demanded action to allay fears that sex offenders could be housed near their children's school.

Residents at packed public meetings were given assurances that new rules could be introduced at a controversial probation hostel, including tighter curfews on possible sex offenders.

One of the meetings, where parents and residents voiced their concerns about changes to Southview Hostel, in Boroughbridge Road, was described as one of the most heated gatherings in the city in recent years.

The row follows Evening Press revelations that a Government ruling means it can now house serious offenders such as paedophiles and murderers.

Most of the local community were not told of the change, implemented on January

Senior probation service representatives, police, councillors and York MP Hugh Bayley listened to residents' worries at meetings in Holgate Methodist Church, Poppleton Road Memorial Hall, and at a private gathering for local pensioners.

It was standing room only at the hall, and at one point Chief Inspector Howard Harding appealed for calm as the meeting threatened to get out of control.

Angry parents, whose children go to nearby Poppleton Road School, demanded to know if paedophiles were currently housed in the hostel.

But Coun Liz Edge, who chaired the meetings, said it was illegal to divulge this information.

One mother said: "My child is too scared to sleep in her bed at night. She won't walk to the school or go to the corner shop on her own. She needs counselling now."

Roz Brown, chief officer of the North Yorkshire National Probation Service, apologised to those residents who were not consulted about the issue.

"I apologise if you did not get to hear," she said. "I can't change what's happened but I can make sure we do better in the future."

Proposals to ease public fears over the hostel changes include:

Changing curfew times so inmates do not go out during morning school run

Tightening curfews specifically for any sex offenders admitted to the hostel

Probation Service working with Poppleton Road School to educate pupils about "stranger danger"

Informing all local residents about forthcoming public liaison meetings with hostel

Special Constables or community wardens patrolling the hostel vicinity during the school run

Mr Bayley meeting the Home Office to discuss changing the siting of future hostels away from schools.

Hostel manager Beverley Corney said: "Each person is comprehensively assessed on their risk to the local community. If we feel there is a risk we turn them down. I turned someone down just today."

Poppleton Head teacher Sue Eland said: "I invite the probation service to come into our school and educate pupils about stranger danger."

Mr Bayley stressed he would not lobby the Home Office to close the hostel and accepted they could not "guarantee" dangerous inmates would not re-offend.

"If you can't give a guarantee you must look at reducing the risk as much as possible," he said. "It's better to release offenders into a hostel than into a private residence."

Chief Insp Harding said the hostel was "extremely well-run".

Updated: 10:42 Friday, September 27, 2002