A national database to help vet candidates for the priesthood should be set up to stamp out paedophile activity.

The recommendation was made in a Roman Catholic Church review ordered by a former Sussex bishop who was himself embroiled in a scandal.

The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, formerly worked as bishop in the diocese of Arundel and Brighton.

He was criticised last year after a priest, Father Michael Hill, served three and a half years of a five-year term for nine sex attacks.

The Archbishop admitted he made a mistake when it emerged that he was responsible for appointing Hill as chaplain to the airport even though concerns had been raised about his behaviour.

He ordered the review into child protection last September after admitting that "inadequate procedures" had led to errors in the past.

The Roman Catholic Church said no decisions on choosing would-be priests could be taken without referring to the database, under recommendations set out in the first independent report on child protection.

The database would work alongside a new national child protection unit set up by the Church to promote good practice.

The report, headed by former judge Lord Nolan, recommended that staff, volunteers and clergy should be subjected to police checks where necessary to root out child abusers.

All applicants for work in the Roman Catholic Church should be asked to disclose any details of criminal offences against children and young people. The report made 50 recommendations and follows a string of damaging revelations involving paedophile priests.

Lord Nolan said: "This is essentially a practical report. Over overriding aim has been to create a secure environment for children.

"We also want to ensure a consistent and effective approach across the Church to allegations of child abuse."

The nine-strong committee includes two senior judges, senior officials from the probation service and the psychiatric profession, a children's charity and Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner David Veness.

Its first report is being published before a meeting of the Catholic bishops of England and Wales later this month.

The full report is to be completed this summer.