NOTORIOUS toilets in Melksham town park could be made safer with the introduction of a child-only facility to deter perverts.

Town councillors want to make the area around Bath Road car-park safer for children as some believe it has become a haunt for paedophiles.

Police have also responded to calls from worried residents who fear the repeatedly vandalised toilet block is being used as a homosexual cruising ground where men meet-up to have sex.

Councillors fear the sexual activity and threat of perverts targeting the toilet blocks will encourage families not to use the park.

At a meeting on Monday, councillors called on toilet owners Interpublic Urban Systems, who are contracted to run and maintain public toilets by West Wiltshire District Council, to install a child-only facility as part of a major refurbishment project.

Mayor Vic Oakman said he wanted to see toilet security tightened, as children would be flocking to the King George V playing fields when the skate park is relocated on the site next year.

He said: "There have been a lot of problems with reports of paedophiles and perverts hanging around.

"The suggestion was that we follow the example set in Victoria Park, in Bath, and have child-only toilets.

"If a grown-up goes into them they are up to no good."

Inspector Neil Bagnall said the two issues of paedophiles targeting the toilets and adults using the facilities for sexual activities were completely separate. He said police had found no evidence of perverts targeting the toilets.

Admitting the toilets were sometimes used for sexual activity, Insp Bagnall denied it was a repeated problem.

He said: "I am not aware it is a regular venue for homosexuals to meet at but we have had a small number of calls.

"Any inappropriate activity whether it be carried out by heterosexuals or homosexuals is to be discouraged."