Tricia Porter is launching a campaign to get a new scheme set up to protect children in Sussex.

The mother of four wants to see a Safety Houses Scheme launched in the county which would provide a haven for children in need of help.

The idea has already been tried and tested in the US, Canada and south Wales.

Mrs Porter, of Kipling Road, Goring, first thought of trying to get a scheme set up a year ago but was told by police it would be too difficult and costly to implement.

The basic idea is that a specially-designed sign is put up in windows and doors of houses indicating to children that it is a safe place to call and get help.

Children who are worried about being followed, or who are trying to get away from bullies, or who are simply lost and do not feel safe can call at any house with the sign and be able to phone home safely.

All families taking part in the scheme would be thoroughly vetted by police and social services before being allowed to become a safe house.

The recent disappearance of eight-year-old Sarah Payne from fields near Ferring has led Mrs Porter, who works at the emergency dental department at Worthing Hospital, to renew her call to get the scheme set up.

She said: "The circumstances surrounding Sarah's disappearance are rather different to what the safety house scheme offers but it has raised concerns about children's safety in the Ferring, Worthing and Littlehampton community as well as most other places. "We need to be doing everything we can to keep our children safe and I'm convinced this scheme could do well here."

Mrs Porter, 45, has four children: Gregory, 17; Ryan, 14; Stuart 11; and Charley-Christianne, three.

She said: "If any of my children were away from home and felt they were in a risky situation, I would like to think that there would be somewhere they could turn to for help quickly."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said they liked the idea. "In terms of finance and manpower it would be difficult to implement. However, the whole idea has not been fully ruled out."