Parents will be able to check whether people who have access to their children are convicted paedophiles, the Government has announced.

The scheme will be piloted by police in Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Cleveland and Warwickshire before being rolled out nationwide if successful.

It will allow single mothers to ask police whether potential boyfriends have child sex convictions before they start a relationship, said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

And family members or neighbours who regularly look after children could also be checked.

Ms Smith said: "If there were any sex offences recorded against the individual in whom they are declaring an interest, there would be a presumption that they would be disclosed to that person.

"It is not a community-wide disclosure. It is not something that some have feared would drive sex offenders underground."

She added: "It is a sensible way to ensure we have more information out there to protect children in the most effective way."

The news was welcomed by the parents of murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who have called for details of convicted paedophiles living in the community to be made available to parents.

Sarah's mother Sara Payne launched the campaign for "Sarah's Law" after her daughter was killed in 2000 by Roy Whiting, a paedophile previously jailed for indecent assault.

She said: "When we first launched the campaign for Sarah's Law, I was appalled by the complete apathy of authorities in bringing about change for the protection of children and targeting those who wished to hurt them.

"These new trials are a major step forward, helping us to protect our children and making it harder for those that prey on them to hide under the veil of state-assisted secrecy."

Ms Smith praised Mrs Payne for her "unflinching commitment to protecting children".

She added: "There are few crimes more evil and shocking than sex offences against children."

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