Councils, including those in Hampshire, are being warned against celebrating local heroes in case they are one day exposed as a paedophile, following the recent spate of historical child sex offence cases involving well-known people.

In official guidance from Geoplace, the local government quango that oversees the official database of addresses, has told councils to avoid naming streets after individuals to after costly changes in the future, should that person be linked to inappropriate activities.

Hundreds of streets, statues, and footpaths had to be renamed in 2012 after Jimmy Savile was exposed as a child sex abuser.

The Local Government Association has supported the move, arguing it will save taxpayers money.