A HALFWAY house for newly-released prisoners in Newport is at the centre of the investigation into the rape and kidnap of a girl of three.

Now shocked residents say they want to know exactly who is living so close to their homes after forensics officers sealed off a house converted into seven bedsits at the property on Caerleon Road and local people want to know whether the house is being investigated as the potential rape scene.

It is understood that two of the men arrested on suspicion of the rape and abduction live at the Caerleon Road house.

One elderly woman who lives nearby said: "There is local worry about the kind of people who live there. It's frightening."

Locals say tenants come and go regularly. One neighbour said: "We don't have anything to do with them if we can help it."

John Morse, 65, of Caerleon Road, Newport, lives opposite the house and has lived on the road for 30 years.

Mr Morse said he had no idea until yesterday the bedsits might be being used to house prisoners newly released from jail.

He said: "How are these people allowed to set up hostels without telling the community? We should have been told."

He said 20 years ago residents heard rumours for plans to turn the house into a multi-occupation property. They sent a petition against the plans to the council.

"We never heard anything more about it," he said. "It's horrible to think what could have happened to that little girl in that house."

Detectives were questioning three men aged 26, 34 and 47 in connection with the alleged kidnap and rape of the three-year-old girl from Cardiff on Monday night.

Police were yesterday granted an extra 36 hours to question two of them. Yesterday, police and forensic teams swarmed around the evacuated property conducting a fingertip search inside and outside the building. Police confirmed this search was connected with their investigation into the three-year-old's rape and kidnap.

A cordon was put up around the detached house and garage around 11am yesterday.

Caerleon Road was reduced to one lane with temporary traffic lights along a 50-yard stretch so Gwent Police's Scientific Investigation Unit could set up outside the property.

Ten crime scene investigators searched inside and outside the house and are expected to remain there for a number of days. The investigation is being led by South Wales Police.

Police officers remained on duty throughout the day and were there again this morning.

A police spokesman said: "Other tenants at the property have been temporarily rehoused and are co-operating with the police while inquiries are conducted."