FURIOUS Usk residents say there will be "uproar" unless sex offenders are no longer sent to Prescoed open prison.

Local people are planning a week of action this week in a bid to get the policy overturned after the escape of child rapist Robert Neil Stokes, 35, last week.

On Wednesday, Stokes, four years into a nine-year sentence, went on the run from the prison for almost 24 hours - prompting a large-scale police search and putting thousands of school pupils in Monmouthshire and Newport on alert.

He was recaptured near Llandegfedd reservoir after a call from a member of the public - and was being treated in hospital for leg injuries under prison service guard.

Police and prison officials are considering whether to charge him over the escape.

Tonight, local people are set to lobby Usk Town Council and at 7.30pm on Wednesday, a public meeting will be held at Usk Memorial Hall.

Speaking last night after a special meeting of Usk Residents Action Group, which says it represents the interests of more than 3,000 residents, mother-of-three Heather Vaughan, 33, said there had been "tears, panic and anger", following last week's events. We warned them, but they didn't listen to us."

Mother-of-two Alison Starling, 44, said: "It's our children who are effectively going to become prisoners. We do feel that the rights of the sex offenders are treated as more important."

Grandfather Lou Gibbs, 66, of Castle Oak said: "Children in Usk can play outside in a way those in big towns and cities can't. But all this is going to change."

Parent Christopher Jofeh, who lives just outside Usk, said: "They are putting children at risk."

Chairman of Usk Residents Action Group, Paul Starling said: "This government, the prison service, Huw Edwards, David Davies - they must hear us loud and clear. This dangerous policy must stop before something terrible happens."

Mr Starling said that if the policy did not change, there would be "uproar". On Friday, after a meeting with prison bosses, Monmouth MP Huw Edwards announced to the Argus they had agreed to look again at their risk assessment procedures.

He also emphasised sex offenders would only be at the prison in the last six to three months of their sentence.

Residents say that is not enough. Mr Starling said: "We are dealing with some of the most dangerous people in society.

"Whether it's three months or three days, it doesn't reduce the risk."

Mr Edwards is due to meet Home Office minister Paul Goggins this week to discuss the situation. Police are also reviewing what happened.

Neil Lavis, head of residence at Prescoed, said procedures in place at the prison were adequate and that Stokes has been assessed as low risk.