MAGISTRATES have banned a convicted paedophile from associating with children after he was found to be working as a party entertainer in Blackpool.

Former Tower Circus clown, Ronald Blackmore, 62, was made the subject of an interim Sexual Offences Prevention Order until February next year during a hearing in the resort on Monday, September 27.

Blackmore - who has previously lived in both Fleetwood and Blackpool - was recently released from an 18-month jail sentence after being convicted of sexually molesting an 11-year-old girl in 2002.

The same conviction also carried a condition that he was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

But magistrates heard how - within a week of being released - Blackmore was inviting youngsters into his Blackpool home and encouraging them to call him 'Uncle Ronnie'.

The court also heard how detectives found children's books, toys and a bag of lollipops after paying a visit to Blackmore over concerns about his behaviour from the local community.

While there detectives saw two girls - aged seven and eight - knocked at the door asking to see 'Uncle Ronnie' and told officers that they had painted and played with Blackmore at his flat.

Also included in a dossier of police evidence presented during the hearing was a statement from a woman witness who told officers that since Blackmore's release from prison he had: "Ingratiated himself and pried into families' circumstances."

Only days before she had seen Blackmore bouncing an 18-month-old toddler up-and-down on his knee and show a 10-year-old boy "clown tricks" while his knee touched the child.

Under the interim order, Blackmore - who uses the stage names 'Ronnie the Clown' and 'Bozo' - cannot contact, associate or communicate with a child under 16; either in person, by writing, telephoning, texting , any electronic means or through a third party.

Blackmore did not attend court and was not legally represented.