LYNCH mob fears emerged after 200 incensed locals met at Lowton, goaded by rumours that an imprisoned sex offender was being rehoused on the Kings Avenue estate.

They packed the normally quiet village Labour Club on Friday night. But the rumours were denied by local councillors who faced an angry crowd.

Meeting chairman Stuart Hide (chairman of Leigh Police Community Liaison Panel) said afterwards:"It was a very emotional meeting with a lot of shouting and bawling.

"I wouldn't say it was a lynch mob - but I think what was said will make the councillors sit-up and think. If they don't then it could become a lynch mob situation.

"I don't think it was helped by the fact that the guy's girlfriend and brother turned-up at the meeting."

Local authority representatives and ward councillors Brian Jarvis, Mark Hale and Kevin Anderson had a rough ride.

Cllr Jarvis said: "We appeal to people to be calm and rational on this issue. We can reassure them that Police and ourselves have taken this very seriously.

"Public safety is of paramount concern.

"During the next few days we will write to people on the Kings Avenue estate.

"The sex offender in question is still in prison, due to be released in a month. He has never been considered for a council house on the Kings Avenue estate or indeed anywhere in the borough.

"But we don't feel we got the message home. We were hopng to reassure residents that a sex offender is not moving on to the Kings Avenue estate."

Cllr Jarvis highlighted the fact that councillors are not normally informed when prisoners are released and only in exceptional circumstances would a person's identity be disclosed.

"We are not at liberty to discuss the person's girlfriend or her address, but she does not live on the King's Avenue estate," he said.

However Julia Polgar, one of the eight anxious locals who called the meeting, says the community is still very much on guard.

She told The Journal: "No his girlfriend, who has done nothing wrong, does not live on the Kings Avenue estate. She lives on the other side of Newton Road having moved there four weeks ago.

"She says she doesn't want anything to do with him any more and as long as he stays away that is fine by us.

"But we would like to see some restraining order so that he cannot visit her here."

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