'Tampering with toilet cords life or death for people'

Emergency toilet cords being tied up, cut, or "maliciously vandalised" are putting lives at risk, an expert has said.

The Disability Interest Group of Salisbury (DIGS), Salisbury City Council and Signs in Motion Ltd have launched a new campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of tampering with the cords.

Kez Adey, CEO of DIGS, has spinal damage and uses a wheelchair. When she fell over in a toilet, she became trapped on the floor for almost three hours because the cut cord was out of her reach.

She said: "This could be life or death. That's how important this can be."

Adey told BBC Radio Wiltshire that "more often than not" emergency cords have been tied up, cut, or even "maliciously vandalised".

Councillor Sam Foster said when he first heard about DIGS' idea for the cord campaign, he questioned why it had not been done already.

"If [we] can tackle this issue then let's take the opportunity we have to do so," he added.

Lee Burt is director of Signs in Motion, a Salisbury-based company which worked to create the campaign's safety posters.

He said: "We were happy to help in supplying the necessary literature in order to help raise awareness of this worthwhile cause."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.