Police have warned they will prosecute anyone found performing illegal activities at a reopened public toilet at the centre of a gay sex investigation.

The men's toilets in Hart Road, Benfleet, were closed last October by the council following advice from the police over unlawful sexual liaisons between homosexuals.

However, the toilets were reopened after a heated debate by Castle Point Council's environmental health committee. Members had received a large number of complaints by the public over the closure of the loos.

The police had carried out 13 separate operations to catch offenders after a series of complaints about men having sex in the public toilet. Gays from all over East Anglia had been allegedly using the loos.

Chief Insp Dave King of Rayleigh police said the council must now look at other options in the future over the problem. He added: "If we again receive complaints about the Hart Road toilets we will again investigate. If we catch anyone performing illegal activities in these or any other toilets, we will prosecute."

Joe Cooke, chairman of the environmental health committee, said the council would be looking at a review of council toilets.

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