People who search for pornographic pictures of children on the internet will never be allowed to work in Blackpool's schools.

That is the claim from local education bosses in the week when the furore over convicted paedophiles in classrooms reached fever pitch.

Revelations that some convicted sex offenders have been allowed to return to teaching have caused a political storm, but Blackpool Council says it does not rely on the controversial 'list 99' - a register of people banned from teaching which does not include all convicted paedophiles - but makes its own checks.

A council spokesman said: "Following the Soham murders the Bichard enquiry came up with recommendations, which we have responded to, further strengthening our already rigorous recruitment and vetting procedures.

"In Blackpool these stringent procedures do not rely solely on one piece of information. For instance even if a Police Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check is clear we would also look closely at the application form itself which may highlight any unusual work patterns and of course we review all references carefully.

"People who have been found to have pursued inappropriate images of children would not be suitable candidates for a job within Blackpool Council or its schools and indeed any person convicted of a schedule one offence would be barred from employment in Blackpool schools for life."

The council's child protection procedures also have specific guidelines for dealing with any employee whose behaviour gives cause for concern.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, which oversees schools in Fylde and Wyre, said: "The council, like all local education authorities, carries out enhanced CRB checks on all frontline staff in schools.

"The enhanced check provides details not only of convictions but any other information held by local police forces that may have a bearing on whether an individual is suited to work with children."