THREE major book retailers were spur-red into action yesterday when it emerged they were selling a new book on Bolton Wanderers by paedophile author, Dean Hayes.

Hayes, a former headmaster, was jailed for five-and-a-half years last month after pleading guilty to five specimen counts of indecent assault on children and three counts of indecency with a child.

When the revelations about his past came to light earlier this year, The Wanderers stop-ped stocking all of his books about the club, including his latest, Bolton Wanderers On This Day, which was released this year.

However, this book — along with another hardback called Bolton Wanderers Miscellany — was on sale yesterday in Waterstones, WHSmith and HMV in Bolton.

In Waterstones, the books were placed on a display on local history under a sign — “Bolton’s Favourite Sons.” The stand was also next to the store’s “True Crime” section.

In WHSmith the book was displayed behind the counter, while in HMV it was ranked at number 20 in the book section in front of the check-out.

When The Bolton News made the stores aware of Hayes’ past, each of them immediately withdrew it from sale.

An HMV spokesman said: “Ironically, we were going to replace this book with more popular items as as there’s not been much demand.”

A spokesman for WHSmith added: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We can confirm that our store no longer stocks these titles.”

And a Waterstones spokesman said: “Having been made aware of the case involving Dean Hayes, we are in the process of removing all copies of Bolton Wanderers Miscellany and Bolton Wanderers On This Day from promotion.”

Hayes, aged 59, was formerly a teacher at Brandwood Junior School and later deputy headteacher at Bishop Bridgeman Primary School, Bolton, before becoming headteacher at Brindle St James’ CE Primary, in Chorley, between 1987 and 1995.

Hayes, of Milford Haven, Pembroke-shire, admitted abusing two young girls between January, 1991 and December, 1996 and also pleaded guilty to possessing 25 indecent images of children.

The abuse was sustained and took place over a period of years, the court heard.