THE quiet rural setting enjoyed by Ian Frost and Paul Rowland is the last place you would expect to find the headquarters of an international paedophile ring.

With two roads in and out, a pub and not much else, Martin Dales is the epitome of a countryside village with a close-knit community.

Riverside House at Witham Bank in Martin Dales, near Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, the home of Ian Frost and Paul Rowland.

And so gelled together are the residents, that in the face of admissions by the couple that they distributed indecent images of children, the community is standing by them.

John Barsby, 67, of Churchill Drive, described the couple as pillars of the community.

He said: "Regardless of what they have done, they integrated into this community in a big way.

"The pair have really helped this community right across the board. The village is mainly pensioners and a lot of us felt they were always there for us if we needed them.

"Ian, in particular was a computer whizz kid. If any of us had a problem with our computers or internet, he would help us, and he never asked for any money for his trouble either.

"Nothing was too much of a bother for him.

"They are both nice guys, regardless of what they have done, and it will be a loss to the community if they go to jail.

"We all make mistakes in life and they have made mistakes. They would never do you a wrong turn.

"They are a good pair of lads who have made mistakes.

"I know they have done wrong, but to my knowledge, they haven't done any harm to anyone here. I take people as I find them. They were well liked and a lot of people know them."

He added that the village community had known they were in trouble with the police.

He said: "We all saw the police cars here and it has been going on for a while.

"In the pub they said they were in trouble and were having problems.

"They did not say openly what trouble they were in, but we knew something was happening. They are not the type of people who will handle prison well, it's not part of their nature.

"They moved here and they integrated with the community – that is what you have to do in a village like this. They just made mistakes."

Frost and Roland moved to the village, which sits close to Kirkstead Bridge, near Woodhall Spa, about seven years ago and got to know the community as patrons at the village pub, The Kings Arms.

The well-supported pub is the only facility in the village which has been home to many residents for most of their lives. Due to its location next to the River Witham, anglers and retirees are attracted to the area.

The village runs at a peaceful pace and is more akin to the quiet life then being the centre of a multi-national scandal involving agencies from both sides of the Atlantic.

So, it was no surprise that some residents spoke of their shock at the discovery of an international paedophile ring operating on their doorsteps.

Churchill Drive resident Liz Smith said Frost and Roland got to know many of them by frequenting at the pub.

She said she knew them well and like many other residents, attended their civil ceremony reception.

She said: "I have known them for about four or five years, meeting them at the pub.

"They were a nice couple and I liked them as people.

"When I heard what they had been up to, I did feel disgusted and disappointed and upset. It was a shock, especially happening in a village like this.

"I was really surprised, I don't know much about it, but it was a shock.

"Ian told me that he worked in computers.

"Everyone knew he was quite clever on computers, but no one imagined he was involved in something like this."

One man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "A lot of people keep themselves to themselves.

"But if we need anything doing or help with anything, we know we can ask our neighbours who will go out of their way to help.

"That is the sort of place the village is. It is shocking to hear this has taken place here.

"It would be a shock in any community."

Another resident, who also asked not to be named, said: "I saw them now and again in the pub and they were always pleasant.

"I did not get to know them well, but think they kept themselves to themselves.

"They would join in general chit-chat, but that was about it, there was no need to find out any more about them so I doubt nobody knows what was really going on."