A FORMER school governor and councillor convicted of collecting child porn, has since been offered honorary membership of a Spa community association.

Grandfather, Keith Rogers from Birch Coppice, Droitwich, was fined £5,000 by Worcester Magistrates a fortnight ago after police found nearly 2,000 indecent images of children on his computer.

The 66-year-old governor of Westlands First School and Wychbold First School resigned as a Labour councillor in March this year, after the offences came to light in January.

Now, in a bizarre show of support, the Westlands Community Association has offered Rogers honorary membership.

The news, which emerged on Tuesday, incensed Meadow Court resident, Mr Earl. He is particularly angry that the backing for Rogers comes at time when the group is planning to create a children's kick-around area.

"I am appalled and disgusted at the way his friends and colleagues have made him out to be a pillar of the community," Mr Earl said.

"He has been made to look like the victim and not the perpetrator."

He later added: "It beggars belief that a man who was made to sign the sex offender register should be rewarded in this way. He may have been named but he definitely has not been shamed."

Westlands Community Association treasurer Carol Simmonds confirmed they recently sent Rogers a letter asking whether he was interested in an honorary membership.

She said they were happy to offer their support at 'such a difficult time': "Keith was the secretary of this committee for two years until the beginning of this year and has dedicated a lot of time and hard work to community projects," she said.

"He was not the first and certainly will not be the last to do what he did and I would trust him with my life. He has been extremely supportive to us, in particular for the way he helped decorate the community hall."

She added the honorary membership would entitle him to sit in meetings, but not allow him to vote. However, the motion was still to be put forward as Rogers was yet to respond to the letter.

Town and district councillor Peter Pinfield (Lab-East)said after Roger's conviction: "I and colleagues have known the family for more than thirty years and they will continue to have our support at this very difficult time.

"I do not condone his actions but we all have tragic events in our life where things go wrong," Cllr Pinfield added.

Rogers' illegal activities emerged as part of the national net porn investigation, Operation Ore.

He was unavailable for comment as the Advertiser went to press.