THE thought of their child falling victim to a paedophile is every parent's nightmare.

The current demands for more information on where paedophiles are, and the News of the World's name and shame campaign are understandable in the wake of the Sarah Payne tragedy.

But there is the very real danger that perverts will be driven underground, and that any slightly odd, single man living near families will become the target for misguided vigilantes.

Mother Nicola Gregson experienced the terror of a sex pest when a suspect man tried to abduct her young daughter in Hilperton.

Now she has started a high profile campaign calling for parents to be told how many perverts are living in their towns. But hers is not a drive for revenge, but to make parents more aware of how careful they must be with their children.

She says parents must be given the information they need to help them protect their children.

Knowing how many paedophiles there are in your town is just as useful as knowing if one lives in your street.

There are evil people everywhere and they will go to any length to satisfy their depraved appetites.

Any moves to help parents protect their children should be supported.