THE reaction of people living near Langho's Kemple View psychiatric hospital after a convicted sex attacker went on the run last month was hardly surprising.

The man, who was sentenced to life for attempted murder 14 years ago, disappeared after being allowed on an unescorted walk around the grounds.

He was later returned after giving himself up to police but he was not the first person to abscond from the place.

In such circumstances local residents, especially those with children, could not fail to feel apprehensive about the safety of themselves and their families.

Now those in charge of the privately-run complex have opened their doors to us to explain how they have made changes to try to stop anything similar happening again.

In future, staff will automatically call police if a patient absconds rather than waiting until they have conducted their own searches within areas surrounded by three metre high fencing.

They will also have to record a visual sighting of each patient walking in the grounds every 30 minutes.

Such procedures are welcome and should lessen the risk and reassure residents at the same time.

But considering the location of the hospital, it is surprising that such steps were not taken before.