Security at Spelthorne Leisure Centre is under scrutiny after being labelled 'risky' by a long-term user whose children had their purses stolen from a locker.

When Mike Burt collected his two daughters and their friend he discovered the trio's purses had been stolen while they were showering.

Mr Burt's daughters, Debbie, 10, and Stacey, 12, had left the key on the floor next to them and found it had gone after they had dried themselves.

They later found it in the locker door and discovered that their purses had been taken from their bags.

In a letter to Dan Reynolds, leisure client officer at the Borough of Spelthorne Community Services Directorate, Mr Burt said: "Going to Spelthorne Leisure Centre has become a risky exercise.

"Customers don't know if when they leave they will have the same personal belongings they had when they arrived.

"My two children emerged from what should have been an enjoyable swimming session on a hot Saturday afternoon in tears."

However, Mr Reynolds was adamant security at the centre was tight, saying: "Our cameras are on 24 hour record and they have proven to be very positive.

"We have 12 CCTV cameras covering reception, stairwells and corridors. The reason we don't have any on the lockers is because that area covers changing rooms as well, which is a sensitive place to put cameras."

He added: "We have had no previous problems with the locker areas. We also work very closely with the police to ensure we have full security at the centre."

Mr Burt, who is a long standing member of the centre's customer forum, has also been offered full reimbursement of the stolen money by centre manager Paul Downing.

By.Neena Parmar