A PEEPING Tom caught filming a group of young girls in the changing rooms at Wycombe Sports Centre is being hunted by police.

Senior staff and police are studying CCTV footage of the man who fled the Handy Cross centre when confronted by the 12-year-olds on Saturday, June 4.

Three friends had been changing in a cubicle when one noticed a blue camcorder positioned near the floor, its lens pointing upwards.

A woman whose daughter noticed the camera, told the Free Press that she was sickened by the incident and urged Wycombe Leisure Ltd centre to introduce new security measures.

She said: "The girls had just finished swimming. They were getting changed when one girl noticed this camera. She put a towel round herself and went to the cubicle to confront the man but he was about to move into another cubicle."

The woman, from High Wycombe, added: "My daughter and the other girls are only 12, and this pervert was videoing them in their underwear. She is really embarrassed and shocked by the ordeal. She won't go back until they've made the changing facilities more secure. Personally I don't blame her. It's so insecure there."

The girls confronted the man who had moved to a nearby cubicle to continue filming. Despite their efforts to stop him, the man fled the unisex changing room with his camera before staff could react, but his getaway was caught on CCTV.

Sarah Pitt, spokesman for Wycombe Leisure, confirmed staff had been alerted to the changing room at around 3.15pm on Saturday, June 4.

She said: "A number of girls reported that a man had put a camera underneath their cubicle partition. Staff immediately called police and attempted to locate the man, but he managed to leave undetected. Staff are assisting police with inquiries."

A police spokesman added: "The victim noticed a camera being placed under the gap in her cubicle. The offender ran out of the changing rooms before he could be stopped by members of staff. We are currently in the process of checking CCTV pictures in conjunction with the sports centre."

The offender is described as a white male, tall and slim with light brown hair. He was wearing brown trainers, jeans and carrying a rucksack.

Contact PC Johnno Hills on 08458 505505, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111