A cleaner being trapped by a gang of yobs and a spate of arson attempts has forced a council to close three toilets early.

The worker was reportedly abused and stopped from leaving the cubicle by a group of young people who held the door closed in Herne Bay.

Blazes were started at public conveniences at Hampton Pleasure on July 18, July 24 and Tuesday.

They were also set at William Street on July 27, July 28, July 30 and July 31.

The council says all of the incidents have taken place in the afternoon or early evening so the loos will be closed from about 1pm.

The facilities at the Memorial Park will also close at the same time.

On top of a fire being set at these toilets on Tuesday, a cleaner from the council’s contractor Monitor was involved in a nasty incident on July 27.

The council says the cleaner was verbally abused and stopped from leaving the toilets by a gang and trapped when the door was blocked.

He managed to get to the cleaners’ cupboard where he locked himself in and called 999 and then his supervisor.

And he continued to be threatened throughout the incident.

The supervisor arrived before the police and the young people ran off.

A statement by the city council says the cleaner was “very shaken” by the incident and it is working with police.

Cllr Charlotte Cornell, cabinet member for heritage, open space, waste and recycling, said: “Verbal and physical attacks on our staff and the public toilets that people rely on are utterly unacceptable.

“We are working closely with the police to find those who are responsible and urge everyone involved to take the strongest possible action.

“As well as being a terrible ordeal for the toilet cleaner involved, because nobody should have to put up with that while at work, putting right the damage caused costs the council taxpayer and diverts valuable resources from frontline services.”

It comes after one Herne Bay businessman says his new restaurant, set to open in autumn, was targeted by a gang of yobs.

Mehmet Dari has called for parents to take responsibility for their kids after a group deliberately set fire to a wheelie bin next to The Bay, formerly Le Petit Poisson.

“I had builders working inside who didn’t know there was a fire,” the A La Turka owner said.

“They could’ve lost their lives.”

Mr Dari was walking past the bandstand toilets and saw toilet tissue had also been set on fire.

“There is a group jumping on top of the buildings, which is annoying us, but we have never seen fires before,” he added.

“Someone could be injured. It has been a nightmare.”

Those incidents are reported to have happened on the evening of July 9.