PEOPLE in Usk are demanding to know the seriousness of crimes committed by the sex offenders currently being held at Prescoed open prison.

On Saturday, around 200 residents gathered in Usk Town Square to demonstrate about sex offenders being placed at Prescoed.

Protesters walked through the town with banners which said 'Freedom For Our Children' and 'Support the Victims not the Offenders'.

The protest followed the escape of child rapist Robert Neil Stokes, 35, from the prison on October 7. He was on the run for almost 24 hours before being caught after a call from a member of the public.

His escape prompted a large-scale police search and thousands of school pupils were put on alert.

On Saturday residents said they should be made aware of who was being held in the open prison, and what sex offence they had committed.

But the Prison Service said it would not reveal what offences the sex offenders had committed or what risk they were classed as.

Paul Starling, chairman of Usk residents action group, said many local people now feel they cannot trust prison officials.

Stokes was described by prison officials as being low risk, yet police said Stokes presented a danger to children and asked the public not to approach him.

Mr Starling said: "The communication between the prison authority and this community is scandalous.

"Hundreds and hundreds of parents were told nothing about the fact that there was a child rapist free and running."

Louise Davies, a 37-year-old mum of two, from Monkswood near Usk, said she felt people needed to know what crimes the prisoners had committed.

She said: "I think we have a right to know what they are in there for. People need to know about these things, to make the community aware of things and be able to make it a safer place."

Monmouth Assembly Member David Davies said he hoped that Saturday's demonstration would show the huge strength of feeling in Usk.

He said he feared it would be only a matter of time before another prisoner escaped.

He said: "We don't want these people at Presoed prison for the last 12 months of their sentence, the last 12 days of their sentence or the last 12 minutes of their sentence.

"They belong behind four square walls."

Today a delegation from the town was meeting prisons minister Paul Goggins in Westminster to discuss the issue.

Monmouth MP Huw Edwards and Monmouth AM Mr Davies will attend the meeting, along with Mr Starling and a member of the town council.