VANDALS have caused new £395,000 toilets to close just 13 days after they were opened to the public.

Doors were ripped off the hinges, paper holders wrecked and graffiti scratched on the walls of the state-of-the-art loos on Gravesend's Promenade, causing the council to shut the doors indefinitely.

Cllr Lee Croxton has slammed the actions as mindless and called on the community to help prevent further attacks.

He said: "I am just really dismayed and disgusted. More taxpayers’ money will have to be spent on repairs. Money that could be much better spent elsewhere.

"It is down to the whole community to take ownership and report it if they see things like this happening."

The toilets caused controversy in March 2004 when it was revealed how much money was to be splashed out. At the time critics claimed more than a quarter of a million pounds for toilets on the prom was a waste of money.

Leader of Gravesham Conservatives Mike Snelling even prophesied that vandals would strike as soon as they were completed.

Now the council may be forced to reconsider the opening times - currently 8am to 6pm - to prevent further attacks.

Cllr Croxton said: "We would really like to see them open again as soon as possible. The tourist season is just starting and they will be in great demand."

It is not known how much it will cost to repair the loos or how long work will take.

The previous promenade toilets, which were also plagued by vandals, were built in the 1950s but pulled down after being condemned.