RIBBLE VALLEY MP Nigel Evans has called on the Home Secretary to intervene after sources revealed that people who have committed crimes such as manslaughter and child sex offences have been housed in Calderstones' medium secure unit in past months.

The MP spoke out after authoritative sources told how some of the people treated at the Whalley unit recently have also carried out paedophile, arson and kidnapping offences.

Mr Evans, who held a meeting with medium secure unit bosses last week, said that people who live in Whalley had a right to know what offences some of its patients had committed.

He said this right was heightened by the work currently under way on a new 300-home housing estate being built with the nearest part just 30 yards from the unit. Under the plans the only barrier between the unit and the estate will be a 1.8 metre wall. Mr Evans said: "I am very concerned to learn of some of the offences committed by people in the unit. Fears have been expressed by some of the residents about security arrangements and those fears need to be aired, particularly with this housing estate being built next door. People have a right to know."

Russ Pearce, chief executive of Calderstones, said the hospital was constantly reviewing security measures, including things like a perimeter wall, cameras and security guards. He went on: "They are all potentially on the agenda and we will look at security in view of the new housing estate. "But our philosophy is that we do not want more than is necessary. Security is not just about about walls and fences."

At his meeting Mr Evans said mental health expert Heather Peters and chairman of the trust board Christine Kirk had given him reassurances about the 200 patients living at the site but refused to give details of their backgrounds.

"The officials have assured me that nobody who shouldn't be there is there and that there is no immediate threat or danger to local residents.

"They said the vast majority are there not through the courts but because it is recognised that it is the best place for them to be. They said 40 or so have been sectioned but wouldn't go into why or what their crimes were.

"We had to agree to disagree because I believe the public has a right to know these people's crimes. I'd like the hospital to tell everyone in the commuity who is at Calderstones and why.

Nurses have already voiced fears about an increasing number of assaults by patients on staff and a lack of security at the site. Now more than 300 family sized houses are to be built close to the site by developers Alfred McAlpine Homes Ltd and there are outline plans for a new primary school.

The 1.8 metre high boundary wall is to be built between the houses and the hospital but deputy chief executive of the trust Graham Jowett said that was to keep people out rather than in.

He said: "This is a very emotive issue but it is not a prison. The wall between the new estate and the hospital will be a boundary treatment to keep the public off the site. It is not to stop people escaping." Mr Jowett refused to say who was housed in the unit and bosses have repeatedly refused to comment on clients citing patient confidentiality and the Data Protection Act.

Asked yesterday to comment on the specific crimes understood to have been committed by patients Mr Jowett said: "We have no further comment to make on this issue."

Sources close to the hospital said that in the past few months Calderstones has housed violent patients with an array of convictions.

Mr Evans said he would now ask Jack Straw to step in.

He went on: "There is an annual report compiled by the Mental Health Commission who carry out statutory inspections of these places across the UK.

"In the past 12 months they have carried out two announced inspections of Calderstones and another unannounced.

"I would ask Jack Straw to look at this report and give us a categoric assurance that nobody who shouldn't be in the hospital is there and that manning levels are correct."

Mr Evans said that people living in the area or considering buying one of the new houses being built deserved to be given information by the trust.

He went on: "We are not talking about a witch hunt, sensationalism or naming and shaming of these people but Calderstones and the community are living side by side in very close proximity and the hospital should take that extra step to keep people informed."

Michael Howlett, director of the Zito Trust which campaigns for reform in mental health policy and law affecting severely mentally ill people in the community, said it was vital Calderstones was "honest and open" with the public.

He said the types of people who were generally treated in medium secure units included people with convictions for rape, arson and homicide.

A huge demolition programme is currently being completed by Alfred McAlpine on the new site.

Plans show that one cul-de-sac of houses will be about 30 yards from Calderstone's West Drive medium secure wing, while the Chestnut Drive wing will be about 200 yards away from the estate.