Residents wish that phantom bus shelter pooer would desist

Perturbed residents are trying to get to the bottom of a messy situation in Plymstock, Devon. A "phantom pooer" has continually targeted a bus shelter under the cloak of darkness on Hooe Road. And people are now reaching the end of their tether as the bus stop has become a 'no-go' area. Carole Stock, who lives in an up market development opposite, said: "This is a beautiful area but someone is getting a kick out of doing this. No one can use the bus shelter as it is just a horrible site, especially in the morning when there's a fresh amount there."

Carole walks her Cocker Spaniel through Radford Park everyday, and to get there she has to pass the bus shelter in question. She meets up with her dog-walker friends and the poo problem is regularly their topic of conversation. But Carole says although they might "have a laugh" on occasions, there's also a serious side to the situation. "My dog would happily lick the poo and I have to keep him on such tight rein," she explained. "It's been going on for the last year. It used to get cleared up by the council. It's just bizarre that someone does it so early in the morning.



"Someone is obviously getting a thrill out of it." Plymouth City Council say they will be sending out a street scene officer to "clear up the site". But Carole says whoever is charged with that job is a "poor thing". "It will be interesting to find out who it is and why they're doing it," she said. "Have they got a grudge against the bus company? It always seems to be on the bus stop and I don't think it happens anywhere else. We should get to the bottom of this." A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council said: "We have just been made aware of a report of suspected human faeces at a bus shelter at Radford Dip at Plymstock.

"We will inspect the scene to see if this is true and, if necessary, one of our street scene officers will clear up the site. We actively encourage the public to report any incidents of this nature and we will always respond as quickly as we possibly can within our available resources." Carole said: "There are rumours it's a lady who does it, but I don't know. It's a phantom pooer. It seems to stop over winter, as it's obviously too cold for them. But they don't even squat down; it's from half way up the bus shelter. They might even be throwing it. We do laugh but I think it's horrible, especially for the kids who have to get the bus."

With gallery of unpleasant photos.