UNDERCOVER police were posted at Redruth School after pupils saw a man hiding in the bushes taking photographs, it emerged this week.

The shocking revelation came to light on Monday following a Packet report that up to 13 paedophiles could be living near schools in the town.

John Shears, headteacher of Redruth School, confirmed on Monday that three "reliable" female pupils had reported seeing a man concealed in bushes taking photographs.

The incident prompted an undercover police investigation at the school, which included a detailed search of the grounds.

Mr Shears said: "Three pupils came to us to say they had seen a man in the bushes taking photographs.

"We promptly contacted the police and they came and searched the whole school. They could not find any evidence after the initial search, so they came into the school undercover for a couple of days in the hope that the person (in the bushes) would come back, but no one did. There have been no allegations since."

Mr Shears added that the pupils who made the initial allegations, in March, were reliable and trustworthy. "It wasn't a case of silly children messing about," he said. "We took the allegations seriously and immediately got people in and got children out of sight."

Revelations about this incident - coupled with the Packet's report last week - have prompted fresh calls for more information about sex offenders in the area.

Penny Osborne, from Four Lanes, whose 11-year-old daughter attends the school, said it was time the authorities came forward with information about the sex offenders in Redruth.

She said: "When I found out about this incident I had already heard rumours about paedophiles in Redruth, but I thought it was just gossip and hearsay. But then my daughter came home from school and told me about this bloke being seen in the bushes.

"You want your kids to be safe but you don't want them to be terrified of everyone they see. The only way to we can keep them safe is by having the right information."

Mrs Osborne, 39, said she was concerned that there were more paedophiles in the area than one small town could cope with.

"We at least need to know how many there are and we need to be reassured that they are being properly supervised," she said. "If they are mentally ill, which some of them must be to do those things to children, then they need to have 24-hour supervision.

"Sarah Payne and Milly Dowler are still fresh in everybody's minds. We need all the facts."

Carn Brea parish council has also called for the probation service to make information about the paedophiles public.

Coun Greg Woods told the council: "We do not want people getting carried away but my worry is not knowing. We need to know what safeguards are in place. How is anybody safe - you could have one 100 yards from your home and you would know nothing about it. No one wants to talk about it."

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of inviting the manager of Trengweath Hospital and the Chief Probation Officer for Cornwall to attend their next meeting.

Last week the Packet reported on the widespread concern of residents living around the Clinton Road area of Redruth.

After the Packet received a letter claiming that 13 paedophiles lived close to local schools, the Clinton Road residents' association confirmed that they had discussed the issue at their meetings and had sought further information from the police.

The police and Cornwall county council refused to comment on the claims.