THE issue of tissue in Leominster's public lavatories is causing considerable inconvenience, writes JEN GREEN.

Complaints as to why toilet paper is now outside not inside the private cubicles in loos are causing more than a few rumblings around the town.

Unaware of the enforced changes - no notice has been posted - tourists and visitors have been caught short and hotels, pubs and cafs have seen an influx of the ' can we use your loo brigade'.

Defending the new policy Tony Lindsay-Jones, head of waste services for Herefordshire Council said: "Public toilets cost £20 per cubicle to service and we are looking at ways of reducing the facility.

"The Leominster situation and others like it is down to vandalism and we have to address the issue of vandals deliberately stuffing toilet rolls into the pan to cause blockages and flooding."

Mr. Lindsay-Jones said "There is no statutory duty for Local Authorities to provide and upkeep toilets".

He offered "no comment" on possible plans to close public loos saying: "This is a basic, human function and no one else is keen to provide a public facility; to protect our tourism we are absolutely determined toilets in Herefordshire are up to standard, fit for the purposes, clean and odour free."

A Full Best Value review of public toilets in Herefordshire is expected in October.

As a visiting coach party from the West Midlands were reported to have said during an afternoon stopover in Leominster when ants forced the closure of the bus station toilets: "No toilet paper and ants in your pants, no point in stoppin'."