I have read with increasing concern the many comments by good Darwen people who are concerned by the possibility of perverts spying on them at the new leisure centre, because they can see through the windows.

I had not considered Darwen to have a particular problem with perverts, and I am glad to have been warned that the town should not be visited by decent folk.

But this does not solve the problem of the queue of perverts who are, as far as I can tell from the comments, already arrayed along the front of the building.

Many have suggested that the windows be made opaque. I would agree, but it struck me that the perverts may be cunning.

They may actually go into the building, thus getting round the opaque glass.

That posed a conundrum, which it seemed could only be solved by one of two courses of action: either, Darwen’s leisure centre would be kept closed, or we encouraged Darwen ladies to adopt the sort of clothing favoured by Muslim ladies.

I did not see the people of Darwen liking either of these options.

Then I had a thought. There is a feature of glass, perhaps little known in Darwen, which I think will discourage the perverts.

That is, you can see through glass from both sides. So any pervert pressed up to the window can himself be seen by Darwen’s swimmers, reported to the police, and dealt with using the full majesty of the law, such as it is.

This, it seems to me, will soon solve the problem for the people of Darwen.

The rest of us can just steer clear of the place.

Name supplied Great Harwood.