West Coast parents warned paedophile has moved in

Parents of children at Blackball School on the West Coast have been told that a recently released paedophile is living in their town.

Senior Sergeant Clifford Paxton, of Greymouth police, said police told the school of its concerns about the sex offender who had arrived in the Grey Valley town. Blackball is a former coal mining centre.

"The school has been advised that parents and children in the area need to be aware of strangers and the dangers they may pose."

School board chairwoman Nicola Whitehead confirmed that the principal had been notified by Greymouth police.

Mr Paxton said police would run a "Keeping Ourselves Safe" programme in the school.

- NZPA