Police in Malton have taken action to prevent public toilets in the town being used by sex tourists.

The toilets in Market Square came under the spotlight last month when they were advertised on an Internet sex site as a place for gay men to meet.

The website, which gives directions to the town and a detailed description of the toilets for the purposes of sex, outraged local councillors who called for their closure.

Parishioners from St Michael's Church, which is next door to the toilets, were "horrified" to learn the toilets were being used for illegal purposes.

The Rev Nick Jones told the Evening Press: "My congregation - some of them children, elderly and disabled - use these toilets because we have none of our own facilities in the church.

"To think that they are also being used for this sort of thing is outrageous. I think the council and the police should be informed and stamp it out."

North Yorkshire Police have started monitoring the toilets closely for illegal activity and have put up a notice warning off potential offenders.

The notice says: "As a result of complaints from the public it has come to the attention of North Yorkshire Police that this venue is being used for purposes contravening decency laws.

"We are working with other agencies in an effort to resolve the issue giving rise to public concern.

"Any individual indulging in behaviour contravening decency laws will be subject to police action."

Malton county councillor, Michael Knaggs, said there was an urgent need to ensure the toilets were not used for such purposes.

"The police and the council obviously need to put a stop to this," he said.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, June 20, 2001