Residents in Abingdon are campaigning to get a notorious paedophile moved from his home - next to a school.

Mums in the neighbourhood have been petitioning to get rid of Robert Excell - who was deported from Australia back to his native Britain in 2005 - since he moved in and this week one was fined after a disturbance in the street.

Fourteen months ago Excell - who spent 37 out of 39 years in jail for repeated sex attacks on boys in Australia - fled a rented house in East Hanney, near Wantage, when his whereabouts became public.

It has emerged he is now living in Abingdon and last night families said they were still pressing for his removal because of his proximity to the school and added they have become more concerned recently.

Mother-of-three Joanne Hobbs, 42, said police were called on Tuesday after she caused a disturbance outside Mr Excell's home.

Mrs Hobbs, who lives near Excell with her 13-year-old son, said: "I was arrested under the public order act and I have been told I could face an £80 fine.

"Tempers are getting frayed but I think that is understandable because parents like myself are bound to be worried when they see Excell wandering around with a camera bag.

She added: "The police have told us that Excell carries the camera bag because he photographs wildlife and also uses it for his medication because he suffers from chronic asthma but a lot of people in Abingdon just want him to be moved out of the area.

"Twice he has been at homes close to schools and I just don't think it is right."

Marisha Treloar, 32, who has two children aged four and seven, is also a neighbour of Excell. She said a petition calling for Excell to be moved had been handed in to Vale of White Horse District Council.

She said: "He has been walking round on his own and he has been seen talking to children quite a few times. The police told us last November that he was going to be moved but I don't think they could find anywhere to move him to. We are all hoping he will be moved soon but I am not holding my breath."

Yesterday police would not comment about whether Excell would be moving soon.

When he fled East Hanney, Thames Valley Police refused to say if he was still living in Oxfordshire.

Excell was jailed in 1965 in Australia after raping a seven-year-old boy. On his release in 1973 on parole he raped a nine-year-old boy.

After being freed on parole again in 1977, he raped a 13-year-old boy. He then assaulted another boy in 1981 after being paroled for a third time.

In 2002, the Australian government ruled he should remain in jail indefinitely, but he was released last year and deported to Britain.

Excell is not on licence and has never committed a crime in the UK. Although he is on the sex offenders' register, he is free to live where he chooses.

Thames Valley Police and the probation service have been monitoring him under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements.

Excell, 69, refused to speak to the Oxford Mail yesterday.