HUNDREDS of residents in a quiet village were celebrating tonight after a hostel dropped a plan to accommodate paedophiles.

People in Edenfield lined the streets last weekend to protest against the proposal to extend services at Chatterton Hey House.

But yesterday, following a meeting between bosses at operator Langley House Trust, police and the probation service, the plan was scrapped.

Matt Mead, a dad-of-two from the village, who helped organise the protest campaign, said: “I am over the moon - this is fantastic news.

“They could not guarantee that these paedophiles would not get out, posing a risk to our children.”

He also thanked the Lancashire Telegraph for publicising the campaign.

Police said after the meeting: “Public protection is our first priority.”

Langley House Trust said it had ‘listened to the public’ and would now attempt to rebuild its ‘positive relationship with the local community’.