A grandmother was asked to leave a shopping centre after refusing to pay 20p to use the toilets.

Defiant Janet Chilmaid has now hit out after an attendant demanded she should pay the fee for helping to change her granddaughter's nappy at Chatham's Pentagon Centre.

And when the 68-year-old pensioner refused because she had not spent a penny, she was enraged when security staff asked her to leave the premises.

Toilet users have to pay 20p, but mothers can go free to use baby-changing facilities.

Centre bosses have defended staff actions saying they behave in an "exemplary" way.

Mrs Chilmaid was on her one of her regular visits to the Chatham shopping centre with her daughter Amanda McLoughlin and her seven-month-old baby, Willow.

She said: "It wasn't about the 20p, it was the principle because I wasn't using the facility and I was merely helping my daughter, who had her hands full at the time."

Reluctantly she was allowed into help Amanda, who was laden with shopping and struggling to change a dirty nappy.

But five minutes later, when she went to leave the public convenience, she was again ordered to pay up.

Mrs Chilmaid, who lives in Higham with 70-year-old husband Ken, said it was then that a security man approached her in an "intimidating manner".

She said: "It was a bit of a stand-off situation. But I did not feel intimidated because I knew I was right."

Amanda, 33, who lives in Winchelsea Road, Walderslade, with husband Ashley, said she could not believe what was happening.

Amanda said: "The way they treated my mum was completely out of order.

"He was very 'in your face', but mum was not having any of it..." - Amanda McLoughlin

"He kept saying she was breaching company policy. He was very 'in your face', but mum was not having any of it."

Mrs Chilmaid, who lives in School Lane, eventually won the dispute - but was told to leave the centre.

She said: "My daughter and I used to go there once or twice a week, but never again."

Amanda said: "From now on, it's Bluewater for us."

Pentagon centre director Martyn Stone said his deputy had examined CCTV footage of the incident and he felt his staff had acted in an "exemplary" manner.

Mr Stone said: "The staff have a difficult job trying to stop people abusing this facility.

"There are rules about charges and most people are happy to pay 20p for a well kept and clean public convenience."

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