EAST Lancashire-born peer Baroness Massey of Darwen (pictured) has told how she has been threatened because of her support for the repeal of Section 28.

The baroness, who as Doreen Massey was director of the Family Planning Association, revealed the bullying, including a visit by two thugs with dogs, as she stepped up her support for the scrapping of the provision which bars local authorities from promoting homosexuality.

The 61-year-old, who was brought up in Lynwood Avenue and was head girl at Darwen Grammar School, said: "When I was first involved in the Section 28 debate, I was threatened both verbally and physically.

"One evening two nasty looking thugs with equally nasty looking dogs arrived at my office and said, 'Listen. Keep your mouth shut or you will have these dogs after you.'

"If that can happen to a middle-aged, middle-class woman, what else is going on which we would find abhorrent?

"I have also received two letters full of filth and bigotry. I received one this morning which made disgraceful references to David Blunkett's disability."

Baroness Massey revealed that she read the infamous "Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin" with her children when they were young. The book is about a girl living with a male homosexual couple.

The baroness said: "They said that it was really boring and that they'd rather have Little Tim and The Brave Sea Captain.

"None of them has grown up to be a gay parent, despite their mother's corrupting influence. "The point of that anecdote is that children take on board what is relevant and meaningful to them. They cannot be made to be homosexual or heterosexual."

But former Ribble Valley MP and Tory Home Secretary Lord Waddington, has strongly opposed the repeal saying it is vital to stop the circulation of pernicious material in schools.

He said that the move to repeal Section 28 was an example of "gay triumphalism" where anyone who dares to question attacks by the gay community on conventional morality is accused of "ugly prejudice or worse."

Baroness Massey said the two thugs visited her home in Clapham South London when she was campaigning against the introduction of Section 28 in 1988 but the abusive letters had been sent to her London home in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman revealed that the Bishop of Blackburn's amendment to the current Local Government Bill would have a key role in attempts to seek a compromise on the issue when the Lords considered its Report Stage.

He said the Rt Rev Alan Chesters' amendment - withdrawn so talks could take place - had an important and constructive role to play in moves to resolve the stand-off.

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