CAMPAIGNERS fighting against the housing of sex offenders in Prescoed open prison are taking the government to court, it has been revealed.

The Usk and Communities Action Group is seeking a judicial review over the government's failure to consult with the public on the controversial policy of housing low-risk prisoners at the prison.

Paul Starling, chairman of the action group, said the government is in for a fight.

"We will challenge the bully boy tactics of this government that thinks it can impose its will on our community without consultation," Mr Starling told a public meeting at Usk Memorial Hall last night. If they think that by a process of frustration and attrition we are going to go away then they will find out they are mistaken."

He told the meeting a team of solicitors is preparing a case for the group to go ahead with the judicial review, and will seek legal aid for the challenge.

They are prepared to take the fight all the way to the High Court if necessary, he said.

"The government will be forced to make its case in public so the whole of Wales can see the irresponsible, dangerous, ill-thought-through basis of this policy of imposing some of the most dangerous sexual offenders from all over Britain on South East Wales," added Mr Starling.

Fellow campaigner Lewis Gibbs said: "This is not only an Usk issue, it's something that's going to affect the whole of South East Wales."

Llanbadoc councillor Val Smith revealed that Monmouthshire council this week sent a letter to Home Secretary David Blunkett supporting the community in its demands for an end to the policy.

Council leader councillor Andrew Crump wrote the letter on behalf of councillors, which read: "It is not right that the local community should be exposed to a threat of violence posed by sex offenders easily able to abscond from an open prison."

Local residents have campaigned for a year against the policy of housing low-risk offenders in Prescoed to help them integrate back into the community.

They were furious when convicted child rapist Robert Neil Stokes walked out and was missing for almost 24 hours.

The group has so far raised more than £600 to fund its campaign, and collected more than 17,000 signatures calling for an end to the policy.