Shepway’s public toilets face the ongoing battle of criminal damage, homelessness and general misuse.

That’s the message from cleaning operative Martin McCafferty who scrubs the toilets in Folkestone three times a day.

He is part of a team that is split between cleaning the toilets in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh so they can open at 8am.

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Mr McCafferty said his seasonal job has turned into a challenge and that he’s never had so many showers in 24 hours.

The toilets that are renowned for being left in the worst condition are those in Pleydell Gardens, behind The Leas.

They are the only public toilets in the town centre, other than those in shops and restaurants.

Last Thursday morning the gents had to be closed off while a deep clean went ahead.

Someone had smeared excrement over the walls, presenting a health and safety hazard to residents.

Three residents had to be turned away within minutes while they were cleaned.

Syringes, drug paraphernalia, tins of food, clothes and sleeping bags are common finds when the cleaners do their first rounds between 6am and 8am.

Mr McCafferty said: “Due to the excrement on the walls I had to lock it up.

“I had spent between 30 to 40 minutes on it that morning and I did the same again just trying to get it clean.”

The toilet block at Radnor Park has been a hotspot for drug users for some years.

John Moorhouse, the technical services manager who oversees the toilet cleaning procedure, said: “We do get people who use the toilets for drug use.

“At Radnor Park blue lights have recently been installed so it makes it difficult for people to inject themselves.

“The toilets are all shut up by 10pm anyway, but this happens in the early evening.”

It is also common for homeless people to lock themselves in cubicles and hide their feet away from view.

A security guard locks them up, bangs on the cubicle doors and checks underneath to see if anyone is in.

If they are satisfied the premises is empty, they lock up.

Mr Moorhouse confirmed that the council is looking at a new lock system on cubicle doors so staff members can open them.

Cllr Stuart Peall, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Most people use our toilets properly and thousands use them in the summer.

“There is only a handful of people that misuse them.”