PEOPLE with complex disabilities in Tidworth will now be able to benefit from specialist fully-accessible toilet facilities.

Tesco, in Station Road, has installed a Changing Places facility to help those in need use toilets safely and comfortably.

The toilets offer a larger area and specialist equipment such as hoists, privacy screen and a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench.

The rollout of new facilities come after Tesco invited Changing Places campaigner Kerry Thompson to its Milton Keynes Kingston Extra store to speak to colleagues and explain why these facilities are so important.

Kerry said: “The biggest challenge I face when going anywhere is when it comes to using disabled toilets. I find some are simply too small to fit me, my wheelchair and hubby — it can sometimes feel very claustrophobic.

“Having to plan where to go for a meal or do my shopping based on whether the disabled toilets are suitable makes things difficult. I have to limit what I drink just in case the disabled toilet isn’t big enough or not got the right equipment to help me.

“Other times I find myself limiting my time out because you just can’t risk the embarrassment of having an accident. I shouldn’t have to worry about the most basic thing we all need to do.

“It was great to get the opportunity to speak to Tesco and tell them why these facilities are so important. I think being in the same room and telling them face to face really helped, and I’m so pleased they’re installing more toilets.

“I know it will make a trip to the supermarket a little bit easier for people like me.”

The supermarket chain has installed these new facilities in a number of stores across the UK

Its chief customer officer, Alessandra Bellini, said: “We were keen to meet with Kerry and when we heard her story we wanted to help.

“It’s clear how import Changing Places toilets are to our customers who need them so we’re pleased to have installed these 35 new facilities across the UK.

“We treat each store on a case by case basis and wherever possible we will try and accommodate them and help customers such as Kerry.”

Rob Burley, director of campaigns, care and support at Muscular Dystrophy UK, which co-chairs the Changing Places Consortium, said: “Having the support of such a high-profile retailer is an encouraging step forward in our campaign and we hope other retailers and venues will follow suit.”