ORGANISERS of an anti-paedophile march have vowed go ahead, despite opposition from people in Dorchester.

The walk is planned to take place in the town centre at 2pm on Saturday to support a petition calling for changes in the law about child sex attackers.

Community leaders spoke out against the action fearing a repeat of a protest in Weymouth with banners and ‘paedos out’ chants.

But organiser Daniel Riggs, of Fortuneswell on Portland, said that he wanted to reassure people about the demonstration in Dorchester.

He said: “There are people planning to attend.

“We are still going ahead with it. I want to reassure people that it is not a witch-hunt or protest.

“It is a walk through town to support the petition for Sarah’s Law and raise awareness about it.”

He added: “I think some people in Dorchester are being too politically correct about it.”

The march will go from Cornhill, through South Street, Trinity Street and back to Cornhill.

Town figures said last week that although they understood the concerns of marchers they didn’t think Dorchester was the right place for the action.

They included town crier Alastair Chisholm, councillors and residents.

Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester Police said he would ‘discourage’ the march but insisted there would be an ‘appropriate’ police presence if it went ahead.

The march in Weymouth at the end of January was sparked after paedophile David Payne was found to be living in Weymouth – despite being banned from being close to a beach.

Mums Stacey Broughton, 24, from Southill, Weymouth, and Michelle Ross, 30, from Wyke Regis, set up a Facebook page and online petition for Sarah’s Law after the David Payne episode.

About 6,000 people have signed up to the Facebook page so far and about 600 have signed the petition calling for Sarah’s Law.

They want Sarah’s Law to give more information about the proximity of child sex attackers. It gives certain people provision in certain circumstances to find out whether someone has a record for child sex crimes.

Sarah’s Law was proposed following campaigning by the mother of Sarah Payne, the eight-year-old who was murdered by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting 10 years ago.

Supporters say that it would help reduce the risk of people being falsely accused as those concerned would know one way or the other if a person had a conviction or not.