PUBLIC toilets at a beauty spot are being closed early because men use them for sex sessions.

Men regularly gather in the car park near the Little Budworth Country Park toilets, a hotspot for 'cottaging' - slang for picking up sexual partners in public toilets.

Cheshire County Council, which runs the park, says it will close the toilets at 4.30pm in a bid to stop the behaviour.

A spokesman said: 'After talking to the police and concerned park users with respect to anti-social behaviour at the park, we are temporarily closing the toilets early at 4.30pm.'

Community Action Team PC Chris McCourt has increased patrols of the area.

He said: 'This has always been there, it is not a new thing, but, with the restructuring of Cheshire police, we are now able to tackle these sorts of issues.

'There are websites that list Little Budworth and Delamere Forest as cottaging sites - it is all quite organised.

'It is an emotive issue because of the nature of the activity. It is a beautiful place to take kids or to walk the dog and that kind of behaviour isn't acceptable - people are quite upset when they come across it.

'These people do not seem to be doing it to shock or flash at pass-ers-by, it is more that they want somewhere quiet to wander off into the woods and do their thing.' Winsford resident Jeff Cross, who walks his dog at Little Bud-worth twice-daily, met Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien last week to discuss the issue.

Mr Cross has also been passing the registrations of culprits' cars on to police.

He said: 'The increased police presence in the area is having an effect but I feel more needs to be done.

'I am thick-skinned and don't let these people affect me, but other people are shocked by what they see and you can't let them carry on like this.

'A lot of people come to walk here and bring their children without realising what is going on. It is very worrying.'

Mr O'Brien said: 'Mr Cross told me about the things he has witnessed and I agree with his concerns and will be making representations to the police and Cheshire County Council, which has responsibility for the park ranger.

'Mr Cross suggested that the men's toilet should be closed all the time to discourage these people from going there.

'He has also raised concerns about the amount of cover one ranger is able to provide at the park.'