ORDINARY citizens are to have a say in the future of the county's most dangerous sex attackers when they are released from prison.

Two 'lay adviser' positions have been created on the board which decides how to control violent or sex offenders in Lancashire.

They will give their opinions on, for example, where convicted paedophiles should live to police, probation and prison service chiefs.

And they will be able to make sure the authorities are properly policing those dangerous offenders who have been released from prison after serving their sentences.

Lay advisers are being phased in by the Government as a compromise to people who demanded to be told where paedophiles were living. They made their calls after a name and shame campaign run by the News of the World newspaper, which was started following the murder of six-year-old Sarah Payne in 2000.

Adverts for the voluntary roles have been published and the positions are expected to be filled by the autumn.

Pete Simpson, assistant chief officer for Lancashire's Probation Service, said: "Lay advisers were successfully piloted in Manchester and Cumbria.

"They will bring a public perspective, as opposed to a professional perspective."

The appointment of lay advisers was revealed when the management board, officially known as Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), released its annual report for 2003/04.

It showed that there were 726 registered sex offenders in Lancashire -- an increase of 89 compared to 2002/03. There were also 354 violent offenders living in communities on licence. Of the total offenders, 130 were monitored by MAPPA.

A further 26 in the highest risk category received top-level scrutiny. Nine of those were put back behind bars without committing offences after breaking the terms of their licence.

The rest lived in the community under supervision without committing further offences.

At least 10 offenders are tagged. Boffins are also close to providing satellite tracking technology which would alert MAPPA to offenders' every move.

Superintendent Gary Stephenson said: "We concentrate our efforts on those who pose the greatest threat to the community.

"Although this report is a success because the majority have not re-offended, the reality is that there is no total solution to this problem and no guarantees."

MAPPA assess the risk posed by those released from prison either on licence or the sex offenders' register and devises a plan to protect the public.

Action taken includes monitoring their behaviour, finding suitable accommodation and providing them with treatment for drug addictions and mental health problems.

Also, they may be banned from areas such as playgrounds or schools and officials such as headmasters, landlords and employers could be alerted to their presence.

They are monitored for the length of their licence or time on the sex offenders' register.