A toilet has been placed next to a road sign close to where lorry drivers have been caught relieving themselves.

It's believed one of many fed-up residents on the Hoo Peninsula placed the loo on the Ratcliffe Highway earlier today.

Locals have reported long-running problems with HGV drivers visiting the nearby Amazon warehouse.

They park on grass verges along busy roads and defecate next to their vehicles - leaving the mess behind them.

Spar shop manager Kim Hazelwood says although people were amused by the toilet protest, it highlights a big problem.

She said: "Sometimes there are lorries everywhere you look and what they leave behind really isn't nice.

"Everyone's fed up with the situation but it just doesn't get any better."

She added that internet retail giant Amazon had finally opened facilities for drivers to park up and use.

But because they were charging, the workers were choosing to drop their trailers off at the depot before parking their cabs along the highway.

Residents have stopped going for walks as it's common to come across faeces and toilet paper on the ground.

Kim says the situation has been made worse by a decision to close off a layby on Four Elms Hill where the lorries used to park.

"Surely, Amazon should offer the services for free," Kim said. "That way the problem would be solved."

Fellow resident Gill Hannah also says the situation is getting out of hand.

She said: "This is what residents are having to live with. Drivers park across footpaths, so we have to walk in roads. They have breached every drain, BT and manhole cover from Chattenden to the Amazon warehouse.

"Since the warehouse opened, this is getting worse, worse and worse. Since Covid, we are encouraged to walk/exercise more, but we can’t because of there's sh*t everwhere.

"It's uncomfortable to walk past all these vehicles, plus we can't use the footpaths. Medway Council is not in the slightest interested."

Last month, parish councillors wrote to council chief Alan Jarrett demanding action be taken.

They said lined-up lorries were "an accident waiting to happen".

Mr Jarrett said the matter was being looked into by council officers.

With increased deliveries due to Christmas, residents fear more traffic and more problems.

Kim added that a toilet roll had been placed with the toilet, but it appears someone had stolen it.

Pictures showing the level of disruption have been posted by residents on a Hoo Facebook group.

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