A FYLDE health visitor has become only the second nurse in the country to be given a leading role in protecting the area's most vulnerable children.

Marie Thistleton has been made the chair of the Fylde-wide child protection committee, made-up of professionals working together making sure that children at risk from harm are properly looked after.

Traditionally these committees have been chaired by social services so the appointment of a nurse is something of a new departure.

Marie said: "It is a privilege to have been chosen to take on this position. It is a recognition of the major role nurses now play in child protection. Nurses are in the front line of child care. In many ways, we have an open door.

"It begins with the health visitor calling on people in their homes, often making a nurse the first one to pick up any major problems.

"Even in secondary schools many school nurses run lunchtime drop-ins so that older children can chat with them on a one-to-one basis. And they listen to just about everything from eating problems to bullying.

As chair of the committee Marie will be involved in helping NHS staff to notice children who are at risk and in deciding how to respond.

The committee will also be involved in communicating information if a high risk paedophile offender moves into the area.

She emphasised that most children on the Fylde are thriving and healthy but added: "Sadly there are those few who are exploited and abused, and they deserve the protection that can only be ensured when those responsible for their care talk to each other and work together.

"That's why I'm so delighted to take on this new responsibility."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.