WORCESTERSHIRE parents could soon be banned from taking photos of their children in leisure centres because of fears the pictures could end up in the hands of paedophiles.

The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management has sent new guidelines to all authority-run centres in the county which urge a ban on the use of cameras and mobile phones during activities like swimming, gymnastics and athletics.

The guidelines have been put in place in case pictures of children taking part in group activities end up in the wrong hands.

If inappropriate pictures were to end up on the internet, leisure and sport centre bosses could be prosecuted.

The decision on whether these guidelines are enforced has been left in the hands of local authorities.

Phillip Rhodes, the duty relief manager at Pershore Leisure Centre, said he was aware that new guidelines were imminent but as yet there has been no official notification.

He said at present, parents who want to take photos of their children have to report to reception so the leisure centre has knowledge of who is using cameras.

The institute said modern digital cameras and a new generation of mobile phones have posed problems.

It is now possible to magnify and manipulate images with no need for a third party to develop or print the photos and images taken on a mobile phone can be transmitted to the internet within seconds.

The institute added that some leisure centres have already imposed a ban on unauthorised use of cameras and mobile phones but those who still allow photography should have a written procedure in place.