Brighton and Hove City Council have taken the

extraordinary step of urging park football teams to take their own padlocks to games in a effort to tackle crime.

The move comes after a spate of thefts from football changing rooms across Sussex that have resulted in widespread loss of property.

The city's lead councillor for parks and open spaces, Mike Middleton, said: "We try and ensure sports pavilions are as secure as possible, but we are prepared to look at whether we can increase security further.

"Most pavilions have locks on them and clubs can bring their own padlocks to secure the buildings while players are on the pitch.

"We would, however, advise players not to bring valuables with them and recommend that clubs have heavy duty padlocks for the pavilions. Alternatively, teams can use a 'bag man' to look after belongings during the game."

Elsewhere footballers have been warned not to leave any valuables in changing rooms, even if they are padlocked, after a series of thefts.

In recent weeks thieves have smashed through heavy doors and cut padlocks to steal team clothing and valuables.

Eight clubs in East Sussex lost wallets, credit cards and mobile phones after criminals broke into changing rooms and gathered up all items of clothing before breaking into cars.

Mayfield, Battle, Willingdon Athletic, Bodiam, Hastings Rangers, Old Cenmodians and Peche Hill Select have all fallen victim.

The East Sussex League secretary Doug Saunders said: "We advise all clubs in the league to remove valuables from changing facilities during matches and hand these to a club member for safe keeping.

"Some teams are talking about not playing on certain pitches where there is poor security in future. It is a sad state of affairs when it comes to this.

"Changing rooms in the Eastbourne area have not been effected by these reoccuring thefts and the league believe it is because the council employs a groundsman at each venue. We are looking to sort something similar out."

The thefts have not been limited to the eastern area of the county as changing rooms in and around Brighton have been targeted too.

Legal and General secretary Alex Savage revealed his club's third team had a lucky escape from thieves recently.

The incident occurred before L and G's 4-2 defeat to Hove Palmeira in the second round of the Gentry Bowl.

Savage said: "I went back to the changing room to change my top and get a whistle. I padlocked the changing room and headed back to the pitch which was at the far end of Braypool. I realised that I'd left the keeper's top in the changing room and had to go back again.

"As I was halfway back to the changing room I spotted a young lady outside. She went into the building and re-appeared making her way around the front of the building. When I got inside I found that the padlock on our room had been cut. I heard a car and ran around the side of the building to see a man and a women driving away quickly in a Silver Granada. Sadly I was unable to get a number plate.

"Luckily nothing had been taken from our room as I had disturbed them. If I hadn't have gone back though then they would have helped themselves. We kicked off late so I think they didn't expect to find anyone around at that time.

"I would like to warn other teams that even padlocking a room may not be enough. Certainly I would advise them to leave nothing of value in a changing room. My advice would be to take your bags out with you."

Savage's sentiments were echoed by police spokesperson Paddy Rea. He said: "It has been a problem since I played football 40 years ago. It's down to the individual police divisions to campaign against it. If players are taking sensible precautions and locking stuff away and it is still going missing then it is difficult.

"Don't take valuables with you to games. If you have to, then keep them together and have a member of the management team collect them all and have them with him during the game. Or you could lock them in a car boot."