THE possibility of paedophile teachers working in Worcestershire's schools is to be investigated by the county council.

Coun John Buckley, the chairman of the committee which scrutinises the council's work, wants to ensure that no sex offender has slipped through the net and is working with children. He says he hopes the findings of the investigation will reassure parents that their children are safe in Worcestershire's schools and youth clubs.

He said he was sure there were no loopholes at a council level, but wanted to make sure that schools themselves were on the ball.

He said: "I'm quite convinced that in Worcestershire we have rigid procedures in place, and any staff are checked thoroughly before they are employed, but I want to ensure this is rolled out in schools. I'm sure the rules are there, but it does beg the question whether each of the schools are rigidly applying this, and that's where the loopholes could be, thinking that everything is ok because an agency says it is."

The issue has been brought sharply into focus following the revelation that PE teacher Paul Reeve, who was on the sex offenders' register, was working in a Norfolk school.

Coun Buckley added that parents in Worcestershire needed to be reassured that the same thing could not happen here.

He said: "I've got two young children and I want to be absolutely assured that they and all other children are being protected."

Coun Buckley, the leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said he was convinced education officers laid down strict guidelines, but he wanted to talk to headteachers, governors and leaders of youth groups "to make sure we've got all this under control".

The cabinet member for children's services, Liz Eyre, said although it was "technically" possible sex offenders could be working in Worcestershire's schools, she was sure police checks were successful in preventing anybody slipping through the net.