Families living in fear of sex offenders housed in a south Oxford hostel have appealed to MP Andrew Smith for help.

They say their warnings about the Probation Hostel in Abingdon Road have been justified after a catalogue of appalling offences involving hostel residents, some of which have gone unreported.

The hostel at 112 Abingdon Road is close to a park, schools and Hinksey Swimming Pool. And families say the hostel is continuing to accept sex offenders, including men with records of rape and violence, rejected elsewhere.

After reports of a fourth serious offence in the area, Oxford East MP Mr Andrew Smith has agreed to investigate residents' concerns. In a letter to the Hinksey Park Area Residents' Association, he said: "I understand the concerns of the residents. I shall go ahead and have a meeting with the Probation Service. I do think I need to speak to them before taking the issue up with the Home Office Minister."

The chairman of the Residents' Association, Karen Douglas, welcomed the intervention of Cabinet minister Mr Smith. She said there had been an attempted rape and reports of assaults against children, confirming people's worst fears about the admission policy and the standard of managerial control in the hostel.

Ms Douglas said: "This disgraceful establishment has now become a national receiving hostel for some of the most notorious sex offenders in Britain. It is time for it to close and be moved to a remote and appropriately managed setting.