DEMANDS to stop a controversial bail hostel housing sex offenders and paedophiles will be taken up with Government ministers.

Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones wants Plas y Wern bail hostel, Plas Madoc, Wrexham, to call a halt after a child rapist Patrick Brendan Smith, who was living there, tried to groom two young girls.

It comes as North Wales Probation Service chiefs admit there were serious gaps in information on Smith’s background before they gave him accommodation there.

Although the probation service said there was an ongoing review of the management of offenders at Plas y Wern, locals are mounting a fresh protest on Monday evening demanding serious sex offenders and paedophiles are never housed there again.

Yesterday Mr Jones said: “I will be taking it up with the minister that is responsible for probation services that this does not happen again.

“Despite reassurances that this would never happen I feel very disappointed and let down.

“Serious offenders of this nature should not be housed there and I will be putting pressure on.”

Smith, 44, admitted trying to lure two girls aged 12 and 13 into his car in Plas Madoc, near Wrexham.

He ha previously been locked up for twice raping a seven-year-old girl, and was out on licence after serving more time for a string of other serious offences.

Locals have been campaigning for years about Plas y Wern.

Stuart Hughes said: “They should not be housing sex offenders and paedophiles there.

“But when we have raised concerns they have just fobbed us off.”

A NWPS spokesman said: “A comprehensive review has been conducted by a senior probation officer from outside the area. It highlighted a number of issues including the fact that there were gaps in the information supplied to North Wales Probation Area about Smith's offending background.

“When Smith came to North Wales it was decided that accommodating him at Plas y Wern was better than allowing him to live with less supervision in the community, which was the other option.

“As soon as we became aware there was a problem, we collaborated closely with the police and Smith was recalled to prison immediately.

“The management of offenders at Plas y Wern is the subject of an ongoing review process to ensure the regime is as robust as possible.

“We appreciate the concern of local people and we would like to assure them that public protection is our utmost priority.”