A GOVERNMENT minister says sex offenders must remain at Felmores bail hostel until a new site for the contoversial halfway-house can be found.

Minister for Justice, Crispin Blunt, said he felt it was more dangerous to remove paedophiles from the Pitsea hostel than to leave them be.

However, he did confirm he was “open” to moving the hostel once an alternative site in another borough can be found.

Mr Blunt made his views clear during a “full and frank discussion” with Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, and Pitsea councillor, Andrew Baggott.

They met Mr Blunt to discuss the future of the hostel, which opened in 1978 and houses up to 20 people who have been released from jail on licence or are on bail. These include murderers and sex offenders.

Mr Baggott said: “I specifically asked the minister to change the type of offenders accommodated. While he was was sympathetic, he declined.

“He said to do so would place offenders back into local communities too soon and without the close supervision required.

“I will now be working closely with colleagues to see what more we can do to find an alternative site and to increase community engagement with the probation service.”

However, Mr Baggott stressed: “I think the time has come to be realistic. There are no quick fixes to this issue and anyone who pretends there is, is naive or using this issue for political mischief-making.“ Mum, Leanne Clark, 41, from Devlins, in Basildon, has been campaigning for the hostel to close.

She said: “It’s not Mr Blunt’s kids who have to live near the hostel and sex offenders.

“If they just got rid of these people then I wouldn’t mind if the hostel stayed – it’s the category of offenders we don’t want.

“I know it’s not going to happen overnight, but we’ll keep up the fight.” The hostel, opposite Northlands Park and near three schools, was thrust into the spotlight last April after a resident, Dean Freeman, 24, was jailed for 10 years for a sex attack on a seven-year-old boy in Basildon. Basildon Council, Essex Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice say they are working together to try to find another site for the hostel.