A PROBE has been launched after a hidden spy camera was found in a beauty therapy training room at a college in Clacton.

The wall-mounted camera was disguised as a motion sensor used to detect burglars.

It was found in a beauty treatment room at the Clacton Adult Community Learning Centre, in St Osyth Road.

Clients and students undress there for treatments such as bikini waxes and spray tanning.

A tutor, who asked not to be named, said one of her clients discovered the concealed camera.

“He asked why we had a hidden camera in here,” she said.

“I said don’t be so silly - there was no way on earth there was a hidden camera - we work for the county council. But he said I needed to call management.”

The whistleblower claims college bosses then told her the camera had been put in eight years ago as a security measure because people were breaking into the college.

She was told the camera was not active, but claims she saw live footage on a security monitor.

She said: “We saw a live feed of my class where students were giving massages at the time - I was horrified.

“It was in the corner of the room and three out of the five treatment beds were clearly visible.

“It looks like a spy camera.

“We have clients coming in and students getting changed. It’s like putting a camera in a changing room. It’s been there eight years and no one had any idea - it’s disgusting.

“My job is to protect students and clients. They send us on courses about safeguarding and how to protect students and vulnerable adults and yet a hidden camera was put in a changing room and they didn’t inform us.

“It goes against every professional and personal moral I have.”

She says management told her there camera was not used to make recordings and only provided a live feed.

She quit her post in the wake of the revelations and gave a statement to the police at the weekend.

A student from the college told the Gazette: “We are all angry and upset. We have had family members and friends come in to help us out by having treatments.

“We feel like we have been completely violated.”

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We are aware of concerns raised in relation to a CCTV camera at Clacton Adult Community Learning Centre.

“We are working closely with Essex Police to look into these concerns and due to the ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment any further at this time.”

A force spokesman confirmed an investigation has been launched by its public protection unit.

She added: “Our officers have spoken with the person who made the report and will continue to keep relevant parties updated as enquiries progress.”