Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien met with concerned residents on Thursday to discuss the problem of men meeting each other in the toilets to perform sexual acts, known as cottaging.

Mr O'Brien said: "I agree with the concerns drawn to my attention by people who use the park.

"People go there to walk dogs and it is used as a family area and obviously that it worrying."

Cheshire County Council confirmed the men's toilets will be closed from 4.30pm in a bid to stop the activity from taking place but Mr O'Brien is calling for further action.

He said: "I will be making representations to the police and Cheshire County Council over the concerns that I have.

"It might even be worthwhile closing the men's toilets for a number of months to see if that has an impact on the people responsible.

"Unfortunately these types of acts are being advertised on websites and that is something which must be addressed if the problem is to be solved."

Mr O'Brien also believes a greater presence in the area by the park ranger would help the situation.

He said: "I believe there used to be a ranger working there regularly but that he now spends most of his time in Wirral.

"Unfortunately that has resulted in this type of behaviour from being allowed to take place.

"I would like to see him spend more time in Little Budworth and hopefully we will then see fewer instances of this type of behaviour.

"We must preserve the enjoyment of law abiding people who go there to walk and spend time with their families."

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