MPs have criticised the Government for allowing a dangerous and violent sex offender to be placed in a hostel near a girls' school and a residential area of Bradford.

Shipley MP Philip Davies wrote to Home Secretary John Reid demanding to know why Kelly James Edney was sent to Box Tree Cottage, a Christian charity-run hostel in Daisy Hill, on his release from prison.

Edney, 26, absconded from the home, which is near the Girls' Grammar School, Bradford, after breaking off his electronic tag in September.

He fled to Leeds and caught a train to London, but was re-arrested four days later in Taunton, Somerset - the place where he had raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl when he was 18.

He is now back behind bars for breaching the terms of his licence.

In a response to Mr Davies, Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, in his role as Home Office Minister, said Edney had been subject to "regular" checks and a night curfew at the hostel which, he disclosed, was used for offenders who are assessed as "high risk". But Mr Davies said: "Such offenders cannot be placed in places like Box Tree Cottage which is very close to a school and in a residential area. This is completely unacceptable.

"You cannot have a convicted sex offender somewhere where there is only a night curfew. People can rape someone in the daytime too.

"There needs to be a tighter regime in place as the consequences are inevitable as if you allow these people out they will re-offend. The Government is failing to put public protection first and that is its duty."

MP Marsha Singh (Lab, Bradford West), whose constituency includes Daisy Hill, said: "I am quite shocked that a rapist was allowed to be placed in Box Tree Cottage. "There should be a full investigation as to why he was not held securely as he was a proven risk to the public."

In his reply to Mr Davies, Mr Sutcliffe said Edney was placed in a room with alarmed doors and windows so if he attempted to leave during the night curfew, staff would have been alerted. However, Mr Sutcliffe revealed staff discovered before the start of the night curfew Edney had absconded and called the police. Mr Sutcliffe said: "Such close supervision and immediate enforcement action would generally not be possible if high-risk offenders were placed elsewhere in the community, such as in bed and breakfast accommodation or in hostels with no staff on duty."

Officials at the Home Office are now in talks with Langley House Trust to ensure employees "understand that protecting the public is their overriding duty and to ensure relevant management controls are in place."

But Mr Davies said: "If police put out a warning that he was extremely dangerous when he escaped - he should not have been let out of prison."

Ward councillor and former Lord Mayor of Bradford, Valerie Binney (Con), said Box Tree Cottage was not the place for a convicted sex offender.

She said: "Given the history I do not think it was the best place for him to be put. I understand about the curfew but people are free to come and go from the cottage. People in the area are really frightened.

"Langley House Trust does a great job but it should have people there who can be rehabilitated in the community."

Thornton and Allerton councillor Michael McCabe (Con) said he shared the MPs' concerns. He said: "The reply from the Home Office suggests no action has been taken and, as a ward councillor, I am concerned."

Phil Hardwick, who lives on the Oval, across from the hostel, said: "It has come as a shock to learn what kind of offenders are being kept there.

"The place has always been shrouded in a bit of mystery, but we thought it was just used for people with drug problems or mental issues."

Nargis Khan, of Crow Tree Lane, said she knew nothing about the hostel and its residents when she bought her house overlooking the hostel two years ago. She said: " It's a bit frightening. We are going to get some security cameras."

In his reply Mr Sutcliffe also revealed that Edney was released automatically after serving two-thirds of his four year sentence.

Cath Magee, northern operations director of the Langley House Trust, said: "We are in touch with the Home Office, not only because of Kelly Edney but always. Public protection is a priority for us. I do not see what Gerry Sutcliffe has said as criticism."