MUf-two Rachel Cramner used to use the road off the A666 as a short cut to take her children to school in Egerton. Now she takes another route to avoid questions from the youngsters about the men they see.

She said: "They have turned a picturesque spot into a no-go area.

One day we saw a man leaning into a car window wearing a dress and you constantly see men disappearing into the woods together.

"The site has become a notorious sex meeting spot - everyone I know is aware of what goes on up there.

"How can you take your children walking when what was once pretty countryside is now littered with used condoms? One day some unsuspecting family will go out walking unawares of where they are and what they might see - if that hasn't happened already.

"I'm surprised Blackburn with Darwen council want to advertise the fact that the site falls within their responsibility by putting a Welcome to Blackburn with Darwen sign right next to it."

It is not just isolated places that are being blighted. Padiham fire station Commander, Duncan Barker-Brown, said he was aware the area to the rear of the fire station, in Station Road, was mentioned on 'dogging' websites.

He said: "We want to assure members of the public that this activity does not go on on fire service property.

"But this problem does seem to be on the increase as details of sites are readily available and swapped on the internet."

Inspector Andrea Bradbury, from Darwen police, said: "Just to have sex in public is not an offence but prosecution can be brought under common law for outraging public decency.

"We are also concerned about the health risks of engaging in casual sexual activity and the impact this has on the local community.

"Safety is also an issue as people who engage in this behaviour are putting themselves at immense risk, in secluded areas with often complete strangers."

There are no restrictions on sentences which can be handed out for outraging public decency or gross indecency, allowing judges the opportunity to clamp down on offenders. There is a maximum three-month jail term together with a substantial fine for indecent exposure.

Inspector Dave Croll from Burnley Police added: "When we get calls from members of the community, we ensure appropriate action is taken.

"Following complaints from residents who live near to Crown Point in Burnley last year, we stepped up high visibility police patrols to deter offenders, put warning signs up and spoke to a number of people about their behaviour. As a result, we have had fewer complaints.

"This is clearly of concern to people who live in and around these locations and where incidents are reported to the police we will take positive action."

A spokesperson for United Utilities, who own the land around Entwistle Reservoir and the A666 lay-by, where illicit meetings take place, said: "Where there is public access, we have no control over who visits the land nor can we monitor what activities go on there.

"However, we are aware of this problem and have been liaising with police to look at ways of deterring people from using our land for this purpose."