Pensioner locked in public toilets

A Holbeach Drove pensioner who got locked in Spalding’s Sheep Market toilets for half an hour says he hopes the locks have been fixed so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

Graham Cole went to use the public toilets on Wednesday, August 13.

But the lock broke with him inside the building.

Thankfully, after a half an hour wait and a locksmith being in attendance, he was finally freed.

“When I was a lad we used to “sing about two old ladies locked in a lavatory which we thought was funny,” said Graham. “Last Wednesday, which was one of the hottest days of the year so far, my wife and myself used the toilets in the Sheep Market.

“I was very impressed with the structure and quality of building until I wanted to leave and couldn’t because the locking mechanism jammed.

“I was lucky because my wife aided by a very kind lady managed to contact some council workers who in turn contacted a locksmith to finally free me after about 30 minutes.

“If I had been on my own and been of a nervous disposition the outcome could have been very serious so I’m imploring the council to sort the locks out before another lock-in occurs.”

A spokesman for South Holland District Council said: “Unfortunately the lock broke whilst the toilet was in use, and council staff came to free the individual involved.”

They continued that the lock had been checked since and was working as it should.

The public toilets have previously been the scene of vandalism and anti-social behaviour, which has seen more robust locks put in place.

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