Builders were forced to change plans for a ten-home development when school governors complained it could attract paedophiles to the area.

Governors at Oakfield Middle School feared homes built in the gardens of existing houses in West Lane, Lancing, would overlook their open-air school swimming pool.

The site backs on to its playing fields and the swimming pool in neighbouring Irene Avenue.

In a letter to Adur District Council planners, governors said first and second-floor windows in the new homes would overlook the playing fields.

It states: "It would afford direct views of the pool area and young children in an undressed state and in swimwear and this would be detrimental to the safety of the pool area. The new houses would have an attraction for people having an unhealthy interest in children."

The governors said the existing bungalows, which will be demolished, do not overlook the pool.

They added: "If it is permitted, there are likely to be worried parents who neither the school or planning authority would be able to adequately reassure."

Council planning officers said the new houses would meet the council's minimum distance requirements.

A report to Monday's planning committee states: "The pool is used relatively infrequently during the summer term.

"It would be difficult to insist that a greater distance should be provided because of concerns about people having an unhealthy interest in children'."

But in a climbdown, developers PDM Facilities have negotiated with the school.

They have agreed to provide a two-metre fence along the boundary as well as planting trees next to it on the school side.

Oakfield Middle School headteacher Laurie Servante said the school was "quite happy now" and the governors had withdrawn their complaint.

Other objections have also been received from three nearby residents concerned about extra traffic and loss of privacy.

Council officers say the back garden development will help it meet targets set by the Government to provide new homes in Adur.

They are recommending approval and will ask the developers to contribute £14,625 towards sustainable transport improvements for the area.

A walk around the site has been organised for today before a decision is made.

The Argus has previously reported concerns among residents in two areas of Brighton and Hove who are worried about the trend towards "garden grabbing".

Residents in Ovingdean and the Dyke Road area of Brighton have objected in large numbers to the increasing numbers of neighbouring gardens being bought for new developments.

They say it is over-exploitation of house plots, will be detrimental to their house values and could have long-lasting environmental effects.