AN MP today called for a tightening of the system after it was revealed that a children's day care centre was allowed to open near to a hostel catering for paedophiles and violent offenders.

Probation bosses said that they were not consulted over the potential dangers of opening Smiles On Faces next to the Haworth House bail hostel, in Blackburn town centre.

And they said that they would have raised serious concerns' about the decision which the owner said she made after Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration department gave her four possible site options.

She said she was not initially aware that convicted paedophiles had been living in the Home Office approved hostel.

Politicians and a social worker said they were very concerned that schedule one sex offenders were being released on licence to the hostel.

Today Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said all local authorities must make it policy to check that the area around any new facility for children is nowhere near a bail hostel.

Last October a paedophile described by a Judge as of "ultra high risk to children" went on the run after being released from prison on licence to Haworth House.

Michael Andrew Wilson was re-arrested by police in Kirkham after being spotted following a media appeal.

But a spokesman for the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangement (MAPPA) which manages offenders on their release from prison insisted this was an isolated incident and the police, probation service and prison service were working together to ensure there was no danger to children.

The hostel opened six years ago and Smiles on Faces, which caters for up to 48 children, has been on the site for three years.

Owner Mrs Ann Wainwright said she chose the site after consulting the council over suitable empty buildings in the town centre and being given a list of four.

Mr Pope said he felt compelled to speak out as Lancashire's other bail hostel was in his constituency.

He said: "Sites should not be suggested that are next door to or overlooked by a bail hostel surely that is just common sense.

"The council must take some responsibility in ensuring that the children's facilities in the borough are located in appropriate sites.

"They must closely monitor where new premises are to be sited and be able to provide advice on the appropriateness of suggested sites."

Blackburn with Darwen councillor Maureen McGarvey, shadow spokesperson for social services, demanded that sex offenders be moved immediately to another of the 110 hostels in the UK.

She said: "Sex offenders or violent criminals must not be housed anywhere near any kind of children's centre or school.

"I couldn't care less now how many sex offenders or criminals have to be moved away from here as long as our children are kept safe."

Simon Bass, a Blackburn social worker for a Christian child care charity who specialises in child protection and has advised Smiles on Faces on child safety.

He said although due to the security at Smiles on Faces, including CCTV and security officers, the risk to children was minimal.

But he added: "High risk offenders should not be placed in the vicinity of children, whether that be at child care facility or close to a school."

Colin Dearden, deputy chief of the probation service, said they had not been consulted by either the council or Ann Wainwright, owner of Smiles on Faces, about the opening of the nursery.

He said: "We would have wanted to register serious concerns so the people making the decision could make it in the full knowledge of what the hostel is about."

Last week Mrs Wainwright wrote to all parents outlining their proximity to both the bail hostel and Salvation Army hostel and reassured them that their children were safe.

She told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that she was shocked to be told that convicted paedophiles had been living in the Home Office approved hostel as she had been told by the probation service she would be informed if they considered any resident to be at risk to children in the vicinity.

Mrs Wainwright said when she was looking for a suitable town centre site for her day care centre the council's regeneration department suggested four possible options including the former church, which she chose.

She said that as the council had suggested the building she had thought it was appropriate and chose it as it had a lift which would enable her to take children with special needs.

Because the building had been a church she said there was no need for planning permission to be granted as there was no change of use.

All she had to do was inform Ofsted and environmental health and health and safety bosses at the council.

She said she was working closely with the probation service and believed that there was no risk to children at her day care centre.

She said: "We have two designated child protection officers at our nursery, all staff have undertaken child protection training.

"We recognise our location is close to a probation hostel and when we set up we knew about the hostel and worked out a risk assessment with the police, probation service and the council.

"However all our play activities take place in our building, as we have a purpose built learning and play centre, and with our building security we are confident no adult could gain access to our nursery."

Blackburn MP Jack Straw, who officially opened Haworth House, said: "I shall of course look carefully at people's concerns."

A spokesperson for the probation service said that Mrs Wainwright had not been told that a number of child sex offenders had been housed there because their risk assessments did not suggest they were a "specific risk to any of the children at Smiles on Faces."

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said that responsibility as to whether the site was suitable lay with Mrs Wainwright and added: "When asked by any private business we provide a range of available buildings which they then assess as to which is best suited to their needs.

"The decision then clearly lies with them."

But Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for Children's Services and deputy council leader, said: "The hostel was there before Smiles on Faces set up and you would think that the owner researched the location and took advice beforehand.

"Although it is good to have a child care facility in the town centre, people must weigh up the suitability of a site."