Public loo knocks users off their seat and drenches them in water, prompting more than 400 people to sign a petition calling for its replacement

Women are "frightened" to use a town centre public lavatory because the door is likely to swing open while they are perched inside.

An automatic arm that reaches out when it flushes has already knocked one young woman off the toilet seat.

More than 400 people have signed a petition calling on the council to replace the button-operated lavatory in Woking, Surrey.

Irene Watson, chairwoman of Goldsworth Park Community Association, said people were scared to use the loo, which was installed around five years ago after a long campaign for a lavatory in the area.

"The risk of the door opening unexpectedly while it is in use, and the toilet's unisex nature and conspicuous position puts people off visiting it," she said.

"And it has an unpredictable cleaning system - people are frightened of it going into a wash cycle and them not being able to get out.

"I spoke to someone whose daughter ended up being knocked off the loo by some sort of arm which swung out when the wash cycle started, which I presume had water coming out of it.

"She came out soaking wet."

The loo is located next to football matches on nearby pitches, as well as dog walkers, anglers, Woking Model Yacht Club, a boot camp and the Charlotteville Rascals junior cycling club.

"It's very short-sighted not to have a public loo at that location," said Irene, who quickly said closing it down completely was not the answer.

"People will go in the woods, which isn't very salubrious. We really do feel Goldsworth Park is being short-changed.

"But we want a public toilet that people feel is safe to use."

A Woking Borough Council spokesman said: "The existing automatic public toilet has not met park users' needs.

"The contract to provide this toilet has expired. The council intends to consider the future provision of toilet facilities at this location."