MORE than 50 people are to be told they are on a council list because of their bad behaviour.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has announced plans to write to the 53 people on their caution list, telling them it exists and giving them the chance to appeal over their inclusion.

The list contains the names and addresses of people deemed dangerous by council workers because they have exhibited signs of violent and abusive behaviour to council officers.

Steps are then taken to make sure social workers and other council employees are not put at risk by people on the list and that they never visit them alone.

People on the list include those who have used threats, remarks about race or gender, pushed furniture, thrown objects or inflicted injury.

A council spokesman said there were normally around 50 people on the list at any one time, with people coming off the list when they are deemed to no longer be a risk.

Most councils and public bodies have the lists, but Blackburn with Darwen is one of the first to inform the people as it falls in line with new legislation such as the Human Rights Act and Data Protection Act.

Both give the individual the right to appeal against their appearance on any database or list.

A report to the council's executive committee revealed the public were not aware of the register but added that is was strictly confidential.

Linda Comstive, Director of Legal and Administrative Services, said: ''While our members of staff are carrying out their duties, it is reasonable that they can do this in safety."

She said no particular area of the borough had more people on the list than any other and that 53 was a relatively low number, bearing in mind the number of people living in the area.