Printer John Page is terrified for his family's safety after becoming the victim of a bizarre poison pen campaign.

But the letters are not being sent to Mr Page's home in Southwick nor his shop in Portland Road, Hove.

Instead they are being sent in his name, apparently at random, as mailshots across Brighton and Hove.

One letter reads: "I have a small business shop supplying Print and Design to companies and individuals which I have taken many years of hard work to build.

"It seems to me the occupants of Hangleton and similar estates are the puss of festering boils that blot the landscape. The boil should be lanced then the puss poured down the sewer or placed in secure camps."

It is signed Mr John Page.

A second letter, bearing the address of the shop Mr Page has run for 20 years, is designed to stir up concern that a refuge for paedophiles is to be built in the area and urges residents to support it.

Mr Page is terrified recipients will think it is genuine and vent their fury on his property or family. He has already received a string of frightening phone calls and angry responses.

He has stuck a yellow poster in his shop window to alert people to the extraordinary campaign.

He said: "I've a wife and a young daughter. These letters have my home address and my shop address.

"So far people have been getting in touch and I've been able to explain. I'm terrified someone is going to see one of these letters and act first. I'm expecting a firebomb through my window at any time.

"I've told the police but so far they haven't been able to do anything. I'm 99 per cent certain who is behind it."

A mother-of-three contacted us, horrified by the second letter.

She said: "I was going to go round to this chap's shop and have it out with him. I can't understand how anyone could do something so stupid."

Detective Inspector Graham Pratt said: "If people receive these letters they should pass them to us. Anyone taking any vigilante action will risk breaking the law.

"There are a number of offences the 'real' sender may be committing and we will bear these in mind while investigating Mr Page's complaint."