Health fears have been raised after people defecated along an idyllic walking trail over the weekend.

Human waste and dirty tissues were found along the Royal Military Canal in Hythe by several disgusted residents, prompting fears for children and animals.

One man, who lives in the town, is concerned with the possible dangerous consequences of leaving faeces behind.

He said: "On Sunday, my dog went sniffing by the bench on the bridge near the tram shelter on Princes Parade and when I went to investigate I found what was clearly human faeces and toilet paper next to the bench.

"I pulled her away and walked along the grassy canal path towards Hythe, I found similar by the canal a short way along there and saw toilet paper at other points along that stretch."

The man said last month his dog needed treatment after having a seizure, with the vet believing it was because she had eaten human poo.

The man added: "The vet suggested she may have eaten human faeces which may have been produced by someone with drugs in their system, hence the bad reaction by my dog.

"My neighbour says she had a similar experience with her dog and now muzzles it to prevent a repeat of this.

"I feel very angry about this issue as I believe it is irresponsible, unnecessary and creates a real health hazard.

"I just don't understand the mentality, especially to do it right next to a bench then leave the toilet paper there too.

"It is bad enough for dogs and their owners but what would happen if a child was exposed to it?

"There is simply no excuse for it and the presence of toilet paper makes me think it's not just someone being unlucky and being caught short, they know there are no toilets and think it's acceptable to do this.

"Such a mindless act that could have terrible health consequences."

Natalie Miller also spotted the mess at the weekend.

She said: "I was riding my horse along Aldergate Lane onto the canal path when I spotted on the verge that some lovely human had been to the toilet and just left it there.

"There were handfuls of dirty toilet paper blowing about in the wind too!

"No need for it! If a dog had found that or had eaten the toilet paper, I’m sure it would have been very poorly."

The rise in people leaving behind human mess comes when lockdown restrictions across the county have loosened, meaning more and more people are visiting the district.

At the same time, not all public toilets have been re-opened.

In Hythe, the facilities in Chapel Street and Stade Street have been re-opened since Monday, May 18.

The town clerk for Hythe Town Council said no reports of human waste being left behind had been reported to the authority.

But added: "If this has been the case, the town council wholly abhors this behaviour by totally irresponsible individuals."

There was also frustration in Folkestone over the weekend after day trippers left behind litter and started fires, with the council now introducing new measures to tackle the problems.

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here