Shirley Robinson, 59, of Malpas Road, was shopping with her husband Frank, 63, who has recently suffered a stroke and needs round the clock care.

"We went to the disabled toilet on the market to find we had to go to the council offices to buy a key which cost £3.50," said Shirley.

"I was disgusted. It's just not fair that fit people don't have to pay and the disabled do. Life is difficult enough as it is."

But a spokesman from Vale Royal said: "This is a one off payment for use of disabled toilets anywhere.

"It's part of a scheme we joined to keep public toilets nice for the disabled.

"The £3.50 is what we have to pay to the scheme when we issue a key."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.