TOWN centre toilets in Padiham are being used as a meeting place for homosexual men, a councillor has revealed.

The toilets, next to the town hall in Church Street, are being used as a "cottaging" venue for men who meet for casual sex.

The walls of the toilets have been covered in obscene graffiti, drawings and telephone numbers. Holes have also been drilled in the toilet doors. Now, after complaints from angry residents, police are to monitor the toilets. Officers in Padiham have pledged to take tough action against anyone caught behaving in an anti-social manner in and around the toilets. Police have had a number of complaints about the toiletss.

Sergeant Dave Fleming, of Padiham Police, said: "Behaviour in and around these particular toilets has been the cause of some concern for members of the public. As a result, patrols have been instructed to observe the premises and take positive action against anyone behaving in an anti-social manner."

Posters have also been produced for display inside the toilets. The Mayor of Padiham Councillor Granville Lord says he is backing the campaign.

Coun Lord said: "It really is sad in this day and age. It is sickening to think that people have to confront this in a public place.

"We are not going to put up with this in Padiham. Parents have enough to worry about, without things like this. The police have been informed and we are sending out a warning to the people doing this. How can they take their children into these toilets when they are covered in obscene graffiti and drawings."

Coun Lord called it a "sickening perversion" that would give visitors to the town a bad impression.

He added: "It is beyond me why people must sink to these depths in public toilets. I'm afraid they are now going to have to do it somewhere else."