DOZENS of public toilets look set to close after vandals and drug users went on a wrecking spree.

Used needles, blood swabs, spoons and foils, soiled clothing and human waste are among the hazardous rubbish which has been found in toilets in Bromyard, Ledbury, Leominster, Colwall and British Camp.

Explicit graffiti has been daubed on walls, fixtures and fittings have been ripped off and blocked sinks and toilet pans have flooded.

Cleaners have found used condoms and body fluids in some of the toilets, keyholes have been glued and locks stolen to prevent closure. Toilet rolls have also been set alight.

Herefordshire Council is now considering closing many of the county's public toilets because of the spiralling cleaning costs.

Councillor Christopher Grover, chairman of the county's environment programme panel, said it would cost the council £40,000 to put the damage right.

"The situation has become intolerable," he said. "We owe it to our residents to ensure public toilets are clean and fit to be used.

"We'll strive to work with the police and other agencies to ensure these problems are addressed so that we can have public toilets we are proud of."

Members of the panel agreed to carry out a full and detailed review, including consultation with police, users and community groups.

Although the council could not be specific about the damage in each area, a spokesman confirmed that nearly every one of its 41 public toilets had been affected in some way and 13 could be closed.

Cleaning staff have also been intimidated, says the report. It says that the condition of the public toilets has a "significant" impact on tourism and economic development.

Public toilets which have been recommended for closure or change include those at Church Street and Tenbury Road, Bromyard, Church Lane and Bye Street, Ledbury, The Grange, Leominster, Wyche Cutting, and British Camp on the Malvern Hills.