POLICE are being asked to investigate after a letter spread unfounded fears that paedophiles were to be housed 200 yards from a school.

The letter, falsely claiming to be from Coun Maureen Bateson, was sent around the Infirmary area of Blackburn and was handed to parents outside Longshaw Primary School.

Coun Bateson told of her anger at the ‘inflammatory’ letter.

She said she was set to report the matter to be police.

Officers branded the letter was “irresponsible and unacceptable”.

The situation was sparked by a planning application to convert a property in Sunnybank Road into a multi-occupancy home.

A letter, headed with Ewood councillor Bateson’s email address and name, claimed the plans were to turn it into a “bail hostel for asylum seekers and possibly a short term stay for paedophiles.”

However, while it is understood that the house has been home to asylum seekers for several months, council bosses and police said there were no plans to house paedophiles there.

And, regardless, Coun Bateson said that on Wednesday planning officers used delegated powers to refuse the retrospective planning application due to highway concerns.

Coun Bateson said: “I categorically deny that I was behind this letter.

“I am very angry that someone would upset people in this way.

"The letter was inflammatory and sought to create trouble in the area.

“There are people in the community who want to upset a lot of local residents by doing something like this.”

The end terraced house sits on the junction of Sunnybank Road and Park Lee Road on the cusp of the Ewood and Highercroft wards.

Coun Bateson said the letter was a tampered version of an email she sent out following a public meeting at Ivy Street Community Centre around three-weeks-ago.

And Coun Bateson claims that someone has added in the line about paedophiles along with the line about it being a “bail hostel.”

A police spokesperson said: “We would always warn anyone against circulating such letters in the community.

"This type of behaviour is irresponsible and unacceptable and whoever is involved has not considered the wider consequences of their actions.

"If anyone has concerns they should contact the police directly or Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Pam Barnes, head teacher at Longshaw Primary School, said: “It’s very unpleasant for parents to be caused these worries, especially when they are unfounded.”