A campaigner is raising awareness of special toilet access cards for people with medical conditions.

Linda Ford's husband was three times refused use of shop toilets despite having conditions that would put him in urgent need.

Now the 63-year-old Deal resident is trying to spread the word about cards from charities to encourage businesses to co-operate if they don't usually have toilet access for the public.

She told KentOnline: "There are a lot of health issues that can affect the bladder. But I don't think there are many staff that realise that sometimes people affected need to have access."

Over three weeks during May, John Ford, 80, who has a range of health problems, was refused access to the toilet in three shops, one in Dover and two in Deal. Each time he had showed his card.

Mrs Ford says that the cards can be carried by the young and old but there seems to be little or no publicity telling of them.

Therefore too many shops and businesses keep refusing to help.

Mrs Ford first put out her message on Facebook saying: "If you run a business and someone desperately needs access to a toilet, please help them if they show you their card.

"Some people may need to go to the toilet every 15 minutes or so and it would make going out so much easier for them."

When putting it on the Deal Watch community page the post ended up with nearly 140 comments including from people telling of their experiences.

One woman said she he carried a card and was still constantly turned away.

One man commented: "They did the same to me. I was on a walking stick and just had a bladder operation. I explained this and still 'no'."

A woman wrote: "I have had this card for the past couple of years, it’s very hit and miss...some places will be absolutely amazing and others don’t have a clue what the card is even about. Definitely up for getting this more well known."

But another man cautioned: "It is wrong to blame retailers for not letting people use their loos. They have to take in health and safety and insurance considerations. At best they would need to have you sign in."

A sudden need to use the toilet can also be caused by pregnancy, prostate and bladder cancer, Alzheimer's, ulcerative colitis (colon and rectum inflammation). Crohn's disease (inflammation of the intestines) and chronic pelvic pain, an enlarged prostate gland and irritable bowel syndrome.

The cards are provided by charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Bladder and Bowel UK and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) Network and Age UK.

IBS Network says the card is not guaranteed to give access to toilets but it is widely accepted and acknowledged.

The Deal Watch Facebook page is a private community one, which our reporter is a member of.