It is three years since Trisha Porter's 12-year-old son fought off a man who grabbed him in a deserted back street. Today, the memory is no less vivid for her or her child.

He was so hysterical following the incident, she was unable to calm him down for hours. He is still very wary of walking the street alone.

For Trisha, 46, it was a wake-up call that pushed her into action. She wanted to make sure not only that her five children, aged between four and 18, were able to run for help, but also that children throughout the county knew who they could trust in times of need.

Her determination became even more focused following the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne. Now, together with Sarah's grandparents, Terry and Lesley Payne, Trisha is about to launch a Safety House scheme in Ferring and Goring.

Trisha, from Ferring, was sitting in the doctor's surgery when a friend telephoned to say her son had been the subject of an attempted abduction.

She said: He'd walked round to his friend's house in Worthing and he noticed a car was driving slowly behind him. He started to walk a bit faster. Then he did a silly thing.

"There are some deserted garages near his friend's house which are on a short cut, so he ran down there.

The man jumped out of his car and ran after my son. He caught up and grabbed him but my son managed to fight him off by kicking. He ran and ran until he got to my friend's house. By that time he was hysterical.

"My son is very much on his guard now especially as my older son's best friend was almost abducted recently in Worthing.

"Even though he's now 15, I have to know where he is and what time he'll be back. I'm terrified."

About the time of her son's trauma, Trisha read a magazine article about Australian Detective Constable Brian Tucker, who had brought the Safety House scheme to Wales.

The idea was to give yellow stickers to people who were checked out and regularly monitored by social services, such as registered child minders.

The stickers went on their front window as a signal to children that theirs was a safe house. The specially-made stickers disintegrate when removed.

Despite her enthusiasm, Trisha was not able to convince the police to help her set up or fund the scheme in West Sussex.

Her idea went on hold until news of the shocking murder of Sarah Payne.

On the first day settling into their new house in Ferring, Trisha and her husband noticed teams of people searching fields in the distance. When she heard a little girl had gone missing her heart sank as she remembered her own anxieties when her son was grabbed.

She said: "I can't really explain it. I was devastated. It was as if I'd known Sarah. It changed my life.

"My husband had to stop me going out at night looking for her. He told me not to be ridiculous because it was pitch black.

"I decided we had to implement a Safety House scheme and I contacted the police again."

Now, with the full endorsement of West Sussex social services department, Trisha is just weeks away from allocating the first yellow stickers to 15 vetted houses in Ferring.

However, the committee she has formed with Sarah's family to push for safety houses is still desperate for volunteers and funds. The scheme needs enough pledges to gain registered charity status.

Trisha said: "Social services can't fund it but they have put their name to it. We've spent £600 on 50 stickers and really need more cash.

"Each yellow sticker is serialised and monitored and once removed it falls to pieces. We joined up with the Payne family and her grandparents come to Goring for committee meetings and to fight for Sarah's Law.

"Sarah's parents came to a disco to launch the committee a couple of months ago. The look of emptiness in their eyes was heart-breaking."

Together with the Paynes, Trisha has linked both schemes but is still trying to convince the police authorities.

She said: "We have thousands of signatures to push Sarah's Law through. We want a register kept in local police stations so parents can see if an offender is living in their street.

"Obviously they wouldn't need to know the exact address because you know what might happen then. But if they knew there was one in their street it would make a difference.

"The Paynes agree the Safety House scheme fits in with Sarah's Law.

"When a criminal moves into an area, police often inform the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator. It would be perfect to let people who have a Safety House sticker know that a sex offender has moved into their area."

To help Trisha with the Safety House scheme for West Sussex, or to make a donation, ring her on 01903 249987. Alternatively, call scheme vice-chairwoman Sarah Blinch on 01273 440585.