Children are avoiding unpleasant school toilets where they fear being targeted by bullies, cleaners warned today.

Many toilets are closed for long periods during the school day while others are in such poor condition that pupils would rather wait until they get home.

The British Cleaning Council warned that some children were developing continence problems as a result.

In some cases boys and girls were being forced to share facilities, the group said.

Steve Wright, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said: “Clean, safe, equipped and accessible toilets are becoming high on children’s wish lists.

“But many UK schools are failing to provide this.

“Children are just as entitled as adults to clean toilet facilities.

“Poor hygiene in loos can lead to increased infections such as bacterial diarrhoea and Hepatitis A.”

The council warned that some children had developed continence problems after avoiding unpleasant school toilets.

The group backed the Bog Standard campaign, which is calling for better toilet facilities in schools.

David Frogett, from the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers, called for a Jamie Oliver-style revolution in school loos.

“We have had school dinners revolutionised by Jamie Oliver,” he said.

“Now it’s about time the toilets were sorted out too.

“We propose that there’s a minimum standard of two cleans a day in school loos.

“Although many are closed, some can be open for up to 16 hours a day and one clean is insufficient to maintain healthy standards.”

Tim Byles, chief executive for Partnerships for Schools, the Government agency responsible for renovating school buildings, acknowledged there were problems with some loos.

“There is a very real issue around bullying in schools, with toilet blocks recognised as a hot spot for bullies to target those they choose to intimidate and threaten,” he said.

“In a bid to avoid having to visit the toilet at school, many young people refuse to drink water, exposing them to the risk of becoming dehydrated or even developing bladder and bowel problems.

“This is an unacceptable situation, but thanks to guidance issued by the Government last year and new campaigns such as this, cramped, dirty and vandalised toilets can become a thing of the past.”

He said new toilets built as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme of renovations would no longer give bullies the chance to target pupils.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: “School buildings and facilities have already improved immeasurably.

“But there is more to do,” he said.

“Heads should put as much effort in designing loos as they do in building and managing any other facilities.

“It is a basic requirement in any other workplace and schools are no different.

“It is unacceptable that children are put off using toilets because they are badly designed, dirty or hang-outs for bullies.”