COUNCIL bosses have had a rethink on controversial unisex changing rooms after a second case of voyeurism.

After the latest incident of a man peeking at naked females in communal changing rooms at the St Peter's Centre, Burnley, facilities are being reorganised.

Single-sex changing areas will now be introduced at the Church Street centre for those uncomfortable with using the mixed area.

And proposals for refurbishment of Padiham Leisure Centre, which were approved by Burnley council on Wednesday, will now also feature single-sex areas and a communal changing village'.

Magistrates in Burnley heard yesterday how Mohammed Gulfraz Razaq, 21, had stood on a chair to watch as a 17-year-old girl undressed at St Peter's.

Razaq, of Colne Road, Burnley, was bailed for pre-sentence reports by the court after admitting a charge of observing another person doing a private act.

He was warned that all options, including custody, would be considered when he returns to court for sentence on March 26.

The incident is the second to hit the Burnley-council run centre after a 23-year-old man confessed to spying on 12-year-old girls, under cubicle doors in the changing rooms at St Peter's.

Magistrates gave George Henry Burrows, of Waterbarn Street, a 12-month community order and placed him on the sex offenders' register after admitting a voyeurism charge.

Burrows claimed he had been using his girlfriend's bag, found the mirror, and had shone it underneath the next-door cubicle.

He later confessed to being embarrassed by his actions but insisted he was unaware of the girl's ages.

Mick Cartledge, the council's community services director, said: "In light of this recent case, at the St Peter's centre we will also be allocating areas within the changing village that are male-only and female-only, for those people who still feel uncomfortable within the changing village environment.

"For people who still feel uncomfortable with the changing village in the refurbished Padiham Leisure Centre, we will be making available separate female only and male only changing areas."

Earlier Coun Roger Frost had pledged that leisure centre users would be listened to regarding the communal changing rooms - both at Padiham and St Peter's.

He said Sport England, which will provide £250,000 for the Padiham upgrade, had been in favour of communal changing areas there.

"The changing village concept is the one which has the best record in guarding against these kinds of problems," said Coun Frost.

"Sport England are the ones who have been pushing this and they are providing £250,000 for the project."

Coun Frost and council leisure officials have also condemned the actions of the men in the cases concerned.

Coun Sharon Wilkinson, who represents Hapton and Park ward, added: "We have to take on board what the funders say.

"But if people feel strongly about it and do not want to then we should be able to come up with some form of compromise.

"I think it is people's perceptions of mixed changing rooms which puts them off. And if people feel uncomfortable then it is going to put them off attending the centres."

Nearby Pendle Wavelengths and Blackburn's Waves Centre both have communal changing areas but mixed-sex facilities are uncommon elsewhere.

Extra training has been given to leisure centre staff in a bid to minimise the risk of similar incidents occurring in future.

Sport England were unavailable for comment.