REVELLERS who get ‘caught short’ this weekend will be able to take advantage of temporary urinals placed in Exeter city centre.

Walls, doorways and window-sills are currently being used as urinals, causing real nuisance and untold misery for local residents and businesses.

The street urinals are being trialled on one of the busiest weekends of the year and will be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night (December 19, 20,  and 21).

The street urinals will be placed in two locations – Bailey Street (close to Timepiece nightclub) and just off Mary Arches Street (close to Mosaic and Club Rococo).

The trial is being delivered by Exeter Community Safety Partnership's Alcohol, Violence & Night-Time Economy Group, which brings together Exeter City Council, the Police, night-time economy businesses and the City Centre Manager.

‘Spending a penny’ in public could cost a lot more, with this anti-social behaviour running the risk of landing individuals in trouble with the Police. The street urinals remove any excuse for drunken revellers to urinate in doorways or in the street.

Cllr Keith Owen, Lead Councillor for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, said: "The spectacle of drunken revellers fouling the city centre at night is unacceptable and we cannot let this behaviour go unchecked. Residents and businesses have told us repeatedly that this is a significant problem and I hope that the temporary street urinals alongside a robust approach from the Police will see a reduction in nuisance to the many residents and visitors who want to enjoy the city centre and a night-out.”

John Harvey, City Centre Manager said: “At the end of the day it’s about decency. Individuals urinating in the street are letting themselves and Exeter down and I hope the provision of street urinals alongside robust enforcement will see a reduction in this nuisance behaviour.

"Urinating in the street is unacceptable and is unpleasant for city centre businesses, residents and visitors.”

The street urinals have already been used successfully in a number of places including London, Cambridge and Manchester.