A disabled woman went to spend a penny in city centre loos - and ended up paying £3.50 for the privilege.

Dereen Ayris was caught short in town on Thursday so she went to use the Oxford City Council-maintained public facilities in Market Street.

When she realised the disabled toilets were locked, she walked to the council offices in High Street but was flabbergasted to learn she had to pay £3.50 for a key to access them.

The 68-year-old, of Canal Street, Jericho, said: "I think it is disgusting. I am not worried about the money - it is the principle.

"It is not fair. Why should I have to pay just because I am disabled?"

The key is now hers to keep and will open all the council-owned disabled toilets in town, she was told.

But Ms Ayris said: "If all the disabled people in Oxford have to buy one of these keys, the council must be raking it in."

She says the council should give her a refund.

But Oxford City Council yesterday said it made no profit from the key scheme.

It issues the keys on behalf of disability network Radar, which uses the National Key Scheme.

The scheme offers independent access to disabled people to about 7,000 locked public toilets nationwide.

Radar said it would like all providers of accessible toilets to keep their facilities unlocked where possible.

It said that the National Key Scheme was only suggested for disabled toilets where there was a risk of vandalism or misuse.

Radar said it also made no profit from supplying keys.

It said it needed to make a small charge to cover costs.

Keyholders can return the keys and have their money refunded.