Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for public toilets to remain open.

Public amenities in Thanet - including at Margate seafront - are set to close ahead of the summer months causing fury among the community and has prompting the petition.

So far, more than 200 people have signed lobbying Thanet District Council to reconsider its decision.

Campaigners say the move makes little sense and will harm the area's tourism trade with visitors to beaches being unable to go to the loo which will have an impact on businesses and the local economy.

Jodie Ellena, who set up the petition, says she believes the council's call to close public toilets is "baffling" when the council is due to spend £3 million refurbishing the civic centre in Margate or fund new offices.

She said: "In the summer, 3,000 visitors a day venture to the beach. With no toilet facilities, would you be comfortable wading into the sea when there are no loos? The environmental implications and health and safety issues are baffling.

"With no toilets we won't have tourists, with no tourists we won't have any spending, without spending we won't have any businesses, without businesses we won't have any jobs.

"Please help save our town, by petitioning against Thanet District Council from closing the toilets and using some of that £3million on refurbing the toilets."

A poll created on Facebook by independent councillor for Birchington, Suzanne Brimm, which has received more than 1,000 votes is overwhelmingly in favour of repairing toilets rather than spending money on the council offices.

The vote, which started in February, showed 96% of respondents wanted the council to spend the money on the amenities.

Thanet council has been approached for comment.

To view and sign the petition head to the Change.org website here.

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