Shropshire men's sanitary bin campaign launched by charity

A campaign urging pubs and cafes to install sanitary bins in men's toilets has been launched by a cancer charity.

Lingen Davies' Bins for Boys scheme, which is starting in Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, aims to have the bins in place for those who have had cancer and use a stoma bag or incontinence pads.

Diseases like prostate or bowel cancer often mean that people have to use the toilet several times a day, according to the NHS .

"As somebody who likes to travel around the local area, it's essential to know that you've got suitable, safe and accessible facilities," said Danny Lloyd-Jones.

The 36-year-old was diagnosed with bowel cancer five years ago and uses a stoma bag which needs to be emptied or changed throughout the day.

He said the bins would make a "huge difference".

"It is a bit of a stress and a bit of a worry if you are trying to travel and you're not sure if you'll be able to change and have hygienic conditions," Mr Lloyd-Jones said.

Eleven businesses in the town have signed up so far and the charity wants to spread the campaign across the rest of the county and into mid-Wales.

"I've had two or three customers come up to me and talk about [the campaign] straight away," said Henry Hunter, who runs the Castle Hotel.

"It's sort of opened my eyes – it's a win-win, from a business perspective, it's a no-brainer."

Lingen Davies' chair of trustees, Tim Cooper, said not having facilities like sanitary bins could affect men's independence.

"Because they worry about what they're going to do with their sanitary products, it means they stay at home," he told BBC Shropshire.

"It's about them feeling safe going to a venue. It gives them the opportunity to go out and use the town in the way that you or I would do.

"It gives them that sense of freedom back."