A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of taking indecent photos of children in a toilet at Swindon's Megabowl. Police were called to the bowling alley complex in Shaw Ridge after a group of seven-year-old boys reported that a teenager had taken pictures of them using a mobile phone.

The incident happened at about 6pm on Sunday during a children's birthday party at the bowling alley.

After using the toilets the seven-year-olds made a complaint and the police were called.

A group of five teenagers were initially detained, before police arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of making indecent images of a child.

The youth was later released on bail pending further inquiries. He has been ordered to return to a police station in early August once inquiries have been completed. If it is established that an offence has occurred the police will carry out video interviews with the seven-year-olds.

Insp Willie Glasgow of Swindon police said: "We do treat all allegations of this kind seriously and will be investigating them fully."

Swindon councillor Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) said that he hoped these allegations would not deter families from the venue in the future.

He said: "The Megabowl has been very successful and popular for families around Swindon and I hope this doesn't put people off from going to Shaw Ridge for days and evenings out.

"These sorts of allegations do worry you. We want places of entertainment to be as successful and safe as possible for everyone."

Ina Price, spokeswoman for NSPCC Midlands and West, said that public toilets could be a place where children are vulnerable.

She said: "New technology like the cameras in mobile phones creates a need for new safety messages to be given by parents to their children.

"People who have these phones need to be responsible and considerate to other people.

"Quite a lot of public places have banned such phones and we welcome this move. Maybe the Megabowl could implement such a move, if they haven't already.

"Some phone companies have incorporated a noise to be sent out when a picture is taken, alerting people in the area, which is a good idea.

"We have had incidents in the past of people entering sports changing rooms and taking pictures and we welcome anything that warns people of this."

Megabowl manager Simon Lynch declined to comment.

Alex Emery

Andy Tate