PUBLIC toilets in Kirkby Stephen are to temporarily close if vandals continue to target the conveniences.

The warning by councillors and Cumbria police was delivered at a meeting of the town council this evening.

A report by Police Community Support Officer Stuart Brownrigg highlighted the continued disruption to the toilets with vandals ripping up toilet paper and sticking it to the ceiling and walls.

He said: "We have had several incidents where local youths have been throwing toilet roll around and leaving them in a state. Even vehicles outside the toilets have been targeted."

Chair of Kirkby Stephen town council, Joan Johnstone, said the woman who currently cleans the toilets would be encouraged to close them immediately if she was to come across any more damage.

She said: "If this happens again we are to lock those toilets and seek police help. Then whoever is doing it will see that we mean business."

Shop-keepers near the toilets have also said they would lend their support by checking who was going in and out of them whenever they could.

Later in his report PCSO Brownrigg said crime over the past month had been relatively low with twelve reports of anti-social behaviour across the town and two reported from Market Square.