SUSAN Burford of Market Lavington is taking legal advice after she and four other people lost belongings when lockers were broken into at Devizes Leisure Centre.

The incident took place last November when users at the leisure centre on the Devizes School campus returned to their lockers to find their sports bags, containing clothes, keys and other valuables, missing.

Nearly five months later, they have been told they will receive no compensation for their loss because Kennet District Council's insurers, Royal and Sun Alliance, said the leisure centre had acted with reasonable care.

Ms Burford is furious that, after all these months, she and her fellow victims are left to foot the bill for their loss.

She said: "The insurers are arguing because Kennet doesn't charge for the use of the lockers; they have no responsibility for the loss of our property. But I believe they have a duty of care to us, their customers."

The lockers are activated by inserting a £1 coin which can be reclaimed when the valuables are removed.

Ms Burford added: "They have notices up telling us not to leave valuables lying about but to use the lockers provided.

"What are we meant to do? I was using the fitness suite so at least I was fairly well dressed, but do they expect people to go to their cars dripping wet to get their towels and clothes?"

Ms Burford also queries the effectiveness of the CCTV system at the leisure centre. There is no footage of the five bags being removed or, more curiously, of the bags being returned, minus some of their contents, three weeks later. No-one has been arrested or charged with the theft.

Ms Burford had to have her car locks changed because her car keys have not been recovered. She is claiming just over £400, a sum which includes the excess on her car insurance claim, used to pay for replacement locks.

The sum also includes time lost at work and out of pocket expenses in having the work on the car done.

She said: "I'm sure that all the victims in this have all received similar letters.

"I think the insurers are banking on picking us off one by one in the belief that we won't be bothered to follow it up.

"But if we were all to get together and go to court as a group we might stand more of a chance."

Gillian Thompson, facilities manager for Kennet District Council, said: "The leisure centre recreation team do regular patrols of the changing rooms. We have CCTV in various places around the centre and we are about to install an additional camera in the reception area.

"We did look at putting a camera in the locker room but a report from the Institute of Sports Recreation Management said that some people are offended by being on camera while not very well attired.

"The lockers are constructed to industry standard and we feel we have taken reasonable care in this instance."

Anyone wishing to contact Ms Burford can contact her through the Devizes office of the Gazette.

lcowen@newswilts.co.uk