PROBATION chiefs today denied that a convicted child sex offender was staying in Accrington -- after his wife distributed posters claiming he had moved into the area.

Vera Venning, of Chorley, put up posters throughout the Scaitcliffe area of Accrington, near the Highfield House bail hostel, warning residents that her estranged husband Tony lived there. Venning was convicted in 1997 of indecently assaulting young girls.

Mrs Venning also spent several hours knocking on doors near to the hostel, telling residents what her husband had been convicted of. The posters shocked residents who have been campaigning to stop sex offenders staying at Highfield House.

But probation service bosses took the unusual step of telling the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that Venning was not staying in Accrington -- although they refused to confirm whether he had stayed there.

A spokesman for Lancashire Probation Service said: "We do not usually say where people are, or comment on rumour, but in this case we can confirm that Mr Venning is not in Accrington. He is not at Highfield House and we have no intention of placing him there." Staff at Highfield House moved swiftly when they heard about Mrs Venning's posters and visited residents who live near the hostel, including postman Walter Brown.

He said: "I first heard of this when Mrs Venning knocked on my door. A lot of people were talking about it and there was grave concern that we could have another paedophile living among us.

"But one of the wardens visited me and said that the man wasn't there and we have to take that at face value.

"The posters shocked and disturbed a lot of people."

The posters, handed out to shops and placed on lampposts, feature a picture of Mr Venning and a newspaper article reporting his trial.

Despite the the Probation Service's statement, Mrs Venning is unrepentant.

She said: "I had been told by too many people, including probation officers, that Tony was in Accrington.

"People deserve to know what sort of person they have living around them and Accrington is too close for comfort.

"I stand by what I did and I will do it again. He ruined people's lives."

The Lancashire police intelligence office has been informed of the posters but declined to comment.

Picture: Vera Venning with a newspaper cutting showing a story about her husband Tony.