An alleyway is still regularly being used as a toilet three years after nearby public conveniences closed, it is claimed.

A shopworker says the stench of urine and human faeces can be found in the walkway near the junction of Chingford Mount Road and Albert Avenue.

There have been repeated complaints of alleyways being used to answer the call of nature since the closure of the council-owned public toilets in Albert Crescent in 2010.

Nick Lewis, a technical engineer at Alarms ‘n’ Sounds in Chingford Mount Road, said human faeces were discovered behind the shop – and not for the first time.

“We used to have this happen occasionally at two in the morning, but now as we’re coming to work at 9am there will be a gentleman there relieving himself,” he said.

“The other day at 11am my mother in law saw a man urinating up the wall.

“We say to them all the time ‘What are you doing?’ and they say ‘What am I supposed to do? There’s no toilet.”

Conservative councillor Jemma Hemsted has vowed to tackle the problem.

She said: “We’ll be looking to work with residents and business owners to get the situation resolved because it’s disgusting and they shouldn’t have to be living with it.”

Businesses were encouraged to allow the public to use their facilities when the public toilets were controversially sold-off to make way for development.

Currently The Obelisk pub in Old Church Road, The Kings Ford Pub in Chingford Mount Road, Costa Coffee in Old Church Road and Chingford Mount Cemetery are accessible.

But Mr Lewis said the scheme is not publicised enough.

“This is our place of work. There is a sign at the Mount outlining places that have agreed to the toilet scheme but it needs to be publicised.”

The council has been approached for comment.