THERE are fears paedophiles will exploit a loophole in the law after news that a West Somerset man cannot be prosecuted for enticing young girls to strip naked.

Ironically, had the man downloaded pictures of naked children from the internet he could have been sent to prison for up to ten years.

But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided there was no criminal case for the father-of-two to answer.

The man admitted persuading two 11-year-olds to strip for a bogus competition - but shocked police officers later discovered that no criminal offence had been committed.

Under English law, it is not an offence to entice children to expose themselves although pressure is being put on the Home Office to rush through new legislation in the wake of the incident.

West Somerset's MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has already taken up the matter with leader of the House of Commons Robin Cook: "He is fully aware of the situation and he feels it is unacceptable situation and a matter of urgency that the law is changed."

The man, who has not been named to protect his family, dreamed up a scam whereby he told the girls that they were being entered in mail order company competition with a prize of £50.

He then pretended to talk on the telephone to the firm and claimed that they needed proof that the girls were 15 years old and ordered them to take down their trousers and underwear. The two 11-year-olds agreed but a 12-year-old girl who was also present refused.

Afterwards, the girls were told not to tell anyone about the incident, but one informed her mother and the police were called.

A national media campaign has since forced Home Secretary David Blunkett to investigate the case and he has pledged to tighten up any loopholes in current sex offender laws.

Solicitor Keith Needs, who is representing the man, said the CPS had considered a number of charges, including indecent assault, gross indecency with a child, breach of the peace and harassment.

However, none of the charges fitted the crime and the man is now believed to be claiming he was under duress when he owned up to the police.

"I will be listening to the police tapes later today," Mr Needs said yesterday.

"We must not forget my client has done nothing illegal. The purpose of the national newspaper article was that it should be an issue of moral conduct."

He said he was now concerned "certain people" might try and exploit the loophole in the law following the media coverage.

When officers swooped at the culprit's office, they seized his computer to ascertain whether he had downloaded pornographic images of children from the internet. Nothing was found.

Officers from the child protection unit conducted a video interview with the three girls.

A mother of one of the 11-year-olds spoke of how she felt when she learned of what had happened to her daughter: "I was really disgusted," she said.

"I put my faith in the legal system because we did not want to end up with criminal records.

"He was arrested but at the end of two weeks we got a letter from the police to say they were powerless to do anything.

"My daughter had to sleep in my bed with me for two weeks because she felt so scared and she had to have a bath every night."

She said she wanted to see the law changed and hoped the Government would address the matter.

The mother of the 12-year-old girl said: "My daughter declined to take her clothes off because she did not believe the telephone conversation.

"The police put a lot of work into this and the girls went through an ordeal doing the videos. None of us thought he would get away with it."

Mr Liddell-Grainger has written to the Home Office and has received a reply from Grahame Danby, of the Home Affairs Secrion.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said yesterday (Thursday): "I am now waiting for a personal reply from the Home Secretary concerning the fact that prosecution cannot be brought under the Indecency with Children Act 1960 or the Protection of Children Act 1978.

"MPs right across the House who want to see something done about this as soon as possible. It has total backing."