GYMS across East Lancashire were today put on alert after a fitness centre used by sporting celebrities was hit by a gang of locker raiders.

The Next Generation Club, off Blackburn Road, Wheelton, has had eight lockers broken into on three separate occasions in December - and victims included a senior Lancashire policeman.

The club is also used by Blackburn's four times World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty, Blackburn Rovers players and England and Lancashire cricketer Andrew Flintoff.

Items stolen in the break-ins, which happened on Monday, December 29, and in the days up to Christmas, include credit cards, clothing, car keys and a car - a blue Ford Mondeo registration MT51 OVH.

Police have now warned other clubs to tighten up security to beat a gang, understood to be from Bolton, which is targeting gyms throughout the area.

Det Sgt Ray Sherlock said that gyms in the Bolton area targeted by locker-crackers in November had been offered security advice, stopping any further raids.

Detectives are now investigating links between those offences and the Wheelton thefts.

Frank Burrows, manager of The Fitness Bank, in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, said: "If anyone has any valuables in our gym, we tell them to leave them behind the counter, which is always staffed.

"Lockers are handy in some cases but you have a lot of hassle with them, with keys going missing, and they are easily broken into."

Next Generation manager Chris Rinder today reassured its 4,000 adult members that the club was taking steps to improve security, including a new locker system.

It is believed that the criminals could be using day passes, which the club offers for free, to gain access although Mr Rinder admitted they could also be fully paid-up members.

He said: "We have a 10-point plan to improve locker security, and security within the building in general, and I have taken advice from the police and will adhere to that advice to stop this type of crime from happening."

Other gyms have also taken the advice in a bid to prevent the gang targeting other areas of East Lancashire.

Mr Rinder said any members with items of particular value could give them to a staff member to place them in a safe during their visit.

The club, which charges up to £900 a year for full membership, offers indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, tennis courts, squash courts, gym facilities and a health and beauty centre.

It is part of a UK chain of 10 set up by former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd, who is chairman, and his son Scott Lloyd, who is managing director.

Blackburn Rovers use the club's facilities for their players to train and England cricketer Andrew Flintoff, and his Lancashire Cricket Club team-mates, also use the facilities.

Carl Fogarty, who lives in Mellor, is a regular on the tennis courts.

DC Kev Scanlan, of Wheelton CID, said: "The criminals are probably using some sort of implement to prise open the lockers.

"You can purchase day passes to get into the club and we are looking at the possibility of that. There is also some CCTV footage which we are going through."