A SINGLE mother today spoke of how she and her young daughter were living in fear after being targeted by a string of sinister hate-mail letters.

In the latest incident an anonymous leaflet falsely claiming a paedophile is living at the woman's house in Heys Lane, Blackburn, has been posted to nearby addresses.

It is the third time in less than a year the woman or members of her family have been targeted by the man sending out leaflets to the public.

In June more than 100 similar leaflets were distributed showing a picture of a little girl and claiming a paedophile lived at the woman's address.

And in August hundreds of leaflets were distributed in mainly Asian areas of Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley falsely accusing the woman's brother-in law, who lives in Darwen, of being a member of the National Front.

Police have dismissed all the incidents as malicious and say they are linking all three as part of an investigation into a case of ongoing harassment against the woman.

The 39-year-old said she had also received death threats, razor blades through the post and threats against her five-year-old daughter from the man, who she said had phoned her to say he was watching her and her little girl.

A car belonging to a neighbour has also been damaged after being wrongly identified in the letter as belonging to the supposed paedophile. The window of a neighbouring house has also been smashed.

Police today said they were pursuing "very strong lines of enquiry", including the use of forensic analysis and a hand-writing expert, in a bid to catch the man.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said her world had been turned upside down by the latest incident.

Information on the leaflets, which were posted second class to at least 20 houses in Heys Lane, Fowler Height Close, Waterloo Close and Bunkers Hill Close, said they had come from someone whose child had been abused by the man and warned residents with children to be "very afraid."

Police today said they were investigating and reassured people that the information on the flyer, which claimed a paedophile named as John Goulding was living at the house, was completely false and that there was no such man living at the address or anywhere in the vicinity.

The woman said: "I have been living in fear of this man for months now and I feel both physically and psychological threatened because he obviously needs medical help.

"I just don't know what he might do next, I've already had death threats against me and threats against my child. Who knows how his mind works?

"My little girl is very traumatised by the whole thing because, although I try to keep a lot of what is happening from her, she knows something is going on.

"The worst thing is not knowing what other people might do when they get this leaflet -- some people will always believe what they read even if it isn't true.

"Last time I had phone calls from people saying they were going to come round and burn the paedophile and this time I've already had people coming up to the house and pointing and looking through the windows. It's very frightening."

Det Insp Mark Gray, of Blackburn CID, is leading the investigation. He said: "There have already been repercussions as a result of this leaflet being circulated and we are urging people to dismiss its contents as untrue."

Police are appealing for anyone who receives a copy of the leaflet to keep it and telephone them.

Anyone with information is asked to call 01254 353569 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.