What could be more innocent than a picture taken by The Argus of children at the opening of a new swimming pool for Elm Grove School in Worthing with their feet dangling in the water?

But when parents were asked for permission to use the picture, all of them refused and one even asked for the negatives so she could destroy them herself. It's sad public concern over paedophilia should lead to this and similar reactions, not just in Worthing but in every corner of the UK.

It's right children should be protected against sexual predators and precautions should be taken. Cases like that of Sarah Payne alarm every parent. But they are rare and the incidence of sex cases does not appear to be increasing.

People should remember that although Sarah Payne was abducted and killed by a stranger, many sexual attacks on children are by people they know, including relations.