Politicians and campaigners today broadly welcomed proposals to widen the ''Sarah's Law'' sex offender alert scheme across England and Wales.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson signalled that the pilot programme, which allows parents to check if someone with access to their children has a history of child sex offences, was to be rolled out.

''Early results are extremely encouraging and the pilot has provided crucial protection for children who might otherwise be at risk."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson

The trials are being held in Stockton, Peterborough, Southampton and Warwickshire and allows parents in each area to ask police if anyone with access to their children has convictions for child sex offences.

Despite fears from some quarters that the move could lead to a rise in vigilante-style attacks and drive paedophiles underground, campaigners insist it would help to bolster children's long-term safety.

The programme, known as Sarah's Law, was proposed following the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting 10 years ago.

The youngster's mother, Sara, was crowned the Government's Victims Champion after her ceaseless attempts to bring in the law based on the so-called Megan's Law in the US, which allows the publication of names, addresses and pictures of paedophiles in some states.

More than 150 parents have made inquiries in the four trial areas which started in September 2008, 10 of these were given ''relevant information'', the Home Office confirmed.

Labour MP and former child protection officer Dan Norris said there was now a ''moral duty'' to bring in the scheme.

But the Liberal Democrats were more cautious, with shadow home secretary Chris Huhne calling for more information on the trials.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: ''Protecting children and families from sex offenders is one of my top priorities and the UK already has one of the most robust systems of managing sex offenders in the world.

''The development of this scheme is a major step forward in our ability to protect children from sex offenders.

''Early results are extremely encouraging and the pilot has provided crucial protection for children who might otherwise be at risk."