The director of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) admitted she was "surprised" by the extent of anger surrounding the James Bulger murder.

"I find it very odd that there is so much emotion on this one particular death and such a vengeful response is actually quite dangerous and could put more and more children at risk," said Mary Marsh, before the AGM of the Barnet & District Branch of the NSPCC on Wednesday last week.

"I find it surprising that there is so much anger about what was an appalling death of a child by children when there are so many [other] deaths of children.

"On average a child dies every week in this country and the cause of that death is the people who look after them at home through sometimes deliberate acts and sometimes neglect," added Mrs Marsh, 54.

"I am not saying that it was not terrible but that is why it is strange to pay so much attention to one particular death and ignore all the others."

Her comments came less than one week after new Home Secretary David Blunkett announced James Bulger's killers Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both now 18, will soon be allowed to walk the streets again.

Mrs Marsh's views were criticised by Ora Joseph, the mother of two-year-old Sharona Joseph, who was killed by a 12-year-old boy in Borehamwood on February 22 1988.

Sharona went missing outside Aberford Community Centre in Brook Road, Borehamwood, while Mrs Joseph was loading up the car with birthday presents from her sister Daniella's ninth birthday party.

A search party was launched and on the following morning Sharona was found dead near a railway track close to Borehamwood station. A 12-year-old boy was arrested and found guilty of the murder.

"I'm against vigilantes," said Mrs Joseph. "But because it was such an horrific crime I can understand the public reaction even though I don't agree with it.

"There is a lot of taxpayers' money pumped into the rehabilitation of these boys and the public has the right to have feedback on their progress.

"I want to know if eight years is sufficient for these children to go back into our community. My daughter Daniella has been suffering for 13 years. She has got swings in mood and still has nightmares. Can you explain to me why my daughter is not well, but the killers are okay? I would like her to get the same support that they have.

"Public opinion has been ignored and it has aggravated the situation. If they had left them (Venables and Thompson) in a little bit longer I don't think they would have had all the furore there is now."