'˜Horror' at toilet vandalism which leaves £1,000 clean-up bill

While the Great Horwood Silver Band were playing for concert-goers at the community centre at the weekend, youngsters ran into the toilets.

CCTV images show two girls quickly leaving the centre.

When the vandals left, the floor of the ladies toilet was strewn with used sanitary wear and toilet paper torn from holders.

In the gents, toilet roll was wetted and dozens of white balls were thrown onto the ceiling and walls.

Both facilities had to be swiftly shut and people who were enjoying the concert, many of them elderly, were faced with having to share the disabled loos.

A steam treatment process and special repainting operation will cost up to £1,000.

The centre’s chairman, Geraldine Collins, said: “My reaction was horror, because we really don’t want that sort of stuff strewn across the toilet areas.

“And obviously with using ladies sanitary papers, there is a risk of infection.

“This is an act of vandalism. Why would they do it?

“They really need to find something else to channel their energies into – rather than doing this and making things very unpleasant for other people.

“It’s going to be a pain to get off and requires a specialist treatment.

“We have had vandals, but not like this before.”

A special fire retardant paint has to be used to redo the toilet walls and this will involve a lengthy closure of the facility.

Mrs Collins said she will be checking CCTV footage of the entry area.

She added: “Hopefully, we will identify the culprits, and the police will be informed.

“This anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.”