A multi-million pound health centre could be surrounded with a six-foot high metal fence to keep out vandals and troublemakers.

The Leys Health Centre, in Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, Oxford, opened in January costing £3.3m to replace smaller premises in Blackbird Leys.

But now the building's owners Lift Infracare are in talks with police architects and crime reduction specialists to tackle reports of vandalism.

Thames Valley Police architect Roger Hampshire has recommended a six-foot metal fence with controlled gates for pedestrians and drivers to be erected across the front of the health centre.

He said: "The recommendations call for it to be completely enclosed when the business is finished at the end of the day.

"Then people won't be able to get up to the fabric of the building and anybody climbing in would be trapped in that area of the car park.

"We have to draw a balance between what is aesthetically pleasing and what works."

Other recommendations for securing the building include realigning security cameras and repositioning external lighting.

Some of the cameras have been pushed out of their normal line of sight by vandals and people hanging around behind the centre, so they cannot be watched.

A two-metre fence already surrounds three sides of the health centre but the front is not guarded.

Questions of security were raised last year when the designs were altered to not include an adjoining building.

At the time the Oxford Primary Care Trust said it believed the security of the health centre would be unaffected.

Fixed benches, including a memorial seat for former Blackbird Leys parish and city councillor Molly Florey, were taken off proposed plans due to fears they would encourage vandals to congregate and attract antisocial behaviour.

Leys and Lye county councillor Val Smith said: "We received reassurance that this was all supposed to have been sorted before the health centre was built."

No one from Lift Infracare was able to comment on the recommendations it is currently considering.

But Andrea Ansell, spokesman for Oxford Primary Care Trust, said: "They are still in the process of consulting with police and planners and trying to come up with a solution to the problem."

Neighbours were split over the recommendations.

Rona Hogg, 47, of Dunnock Way said: "It wouldn't look very pretty, it would probably be a bit of a eyesore.

"I don't know what goes on round there but if they've blocked off all three sides it makes sense to put a fence up on the front."

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "It doesn't bother me, I see the police cars but they are normally at the shop or the park not the health centre."

The health centre has a GP practice, pharmacy, dental surgery and health and community facilities.