MOTHERS in Atherton are fearing for the safety of their children after a convicted paedophile returned to the street where he molested his victims.

A man who was sentenced to three years prison has returned to the Hag Fold estate, the scene of his s.

Police visited the families whose lives were wrecked by the 55-year-old and warned them that the man would be returning to the estate.

One mother, whose young daughter was indecently assaulted by him, said she was devastated.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child, said: "I think it is absolutely appalling he is being allowed to move back here.

"We were hoping he would never return. Seeing him walking down the street will bring everything back."

The police told families that the man - who for the last 18 months has been living in private accommodation in Bolton under the supervision of the probation service - had every right to return to his home address.

Residents have been warned not to try and seek revenge and were asked "to keep the news quiet".

The mother said: "They are trying to protect him, but what about protecting our children? I'm not keeping quiet because there are a lot of new families around here who should know about him and not just see him as a normal man next door."

The man - who is on the Sex Offenders Register - was sentenced to three years at Bolton Crown Court in June 1997. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of indecency and indecent assault on four girls aged between five and 12.

The court heard how the paedophile molested the four children in his home because he had not had sex with his wife for eight years.

The offences first came to light when the man, a painter and decorator, admitted fondling and assaulting a nine-year-old girl during a private conversation with a man while he was working on a job at Hindley Prison.

The court was also told of his catalogue of sick acts, which included almost being caught by his wife assaulting a child in his garden shed and molesting two other girls in his kitchen.

In mitigation, it was said the offences were committed during a period of severe stress and depression and he expressed genuine sorrow and remorse.

He said he hoped the girls could continue the rest of their childhoods in a happy and undisturbed way.

Judge Carter, passing sentence, said: "The aggravating feature in your case is the age of the children and the fact that you took advantage of your trusted position.

"Right-thinking members of the public will be disgusted by the way you have behaved."