KENT'S footballing authorities have warned the county's youth teams to be on the alert for two known paedophiles who may be trying to target children through football clubs.

The two football coaches and referees, one from Bromley and one from Middlesex, have been identified by the Kent County Football Association (KCFA) as "a serious danger to children".

KCFA chief executive Keith Masters said both men were coaches and qualified football referees. One was a schoolteacher who used more than one identity, he said. He is in his early 60s.

Mr Masters said the KCFA had been informed about the two men by the Football Association, which runs football in England.

"The persons that we have been notified about constitute a serious danger to children and have been barred for life by the FA from having any activity within the game at any level. We must all be vigilant that these undesirable people are not allowed to infiltrate the game," he added.

The Football Association's letter to the KCFA had identified the two men by name and address, Mr Masters said. One was a referee qualified to officiate at a senior level, he added.

He said the KCFA had written to all clubs in the county which run junior sides, warning them to be on the lookout for men putting themselves forward as coaches or referees.

The majority of junior coaches or referees have some form of family link with local football teams, but no formal requirement exists for police checks, as it does in professions like teaching.

At the moment, concerned football clubs can pay £10 to the police and have a data search carried out to find out if a person has committed offences against children or involving violence.

Mr Masters said the Football Association was planning to make police checks obligatory for all coaches and other adults involved in youth football.