The man who spearheaded new child protection procedures in the wake of the Soham killings is calling for a rethink on a proposed new register of people working with children.

Sir Michael Bichard said he feared people such as family friends and entertainers who occasionally visited schools could be forced to join a huge database of people approved for work with children and vulnerable adults.

Under the scheme, which comes into force in November next year, people coming into contact with children once a month or more will have to register.

Sir Michael told the Independent: "We must have proportionate arrangements. We mustn't over-react."

The Government estimates that up to 11.3 million people in the education, care and health industries will eventually be on the database.

Sir Michael said: "What I didn't want was a disproportionate response. I made it very clear that I didn't want parents to have to check relatives before they could put their children in their care for baby-sitting and things like that."

The idea that people like actors, authors or entertainers who visit a school occasionally should register with the scheme should be reconsidered, he said.

He told The Independent: "If you visit one school in January, and then don't visit that school again, but visit another school in February and another in March, is that frequent or intensive? I think that's something which might merit reconsideration. Based on the discussions and conversations I've had, clearly there is an issue."

He said he had taken his concerns to the chairman of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, Sir Roger Singleton, whose agency is responsible for compiling the database.

Several British children's authors including Anthony Horowitz and Philip Pullman have said they will stop visiting schools in protest at having to register with the scheme.