A GRANDMOTHER has urged Musselburgh Racecourse to install more disabled toilets after an unhappy experience at Ladies Day.

Annette McNamee, 64, of the town’s Delta Drive, was looking forward to a day out with family and friends at Saturday’s event.

She has a stoma, after part of her bowel was removed due to ulcerative colitis.

Mrs McNamee, who carries a disability card, said she needed to use the toilet immediately but there were no disabled toilets in the picnic area she was in.

“The queue for the toilets was endless,” she said. “There were about seven toilets and about 25 people standing waiting to get in.”

A security guard came to the rescue.

She said: “He actually took my hand and pushed past everybody, and told everyone I had to have access to a toilet as soon as possible. I tried to find him afterwards to thank him as I really appreciated what he did.”

But she said the toilet was small and she had no sink to wash in. Mrs McNamee, who was dressed in a new outfit for the occasion, had to go home.

“I had a lovely day up until then,” she said.

Mrs McNamee said she suffered a similar experience at Ladies Day two years ago when she had to use a gents’ toilet due to the queues at the ladies’ toilets, and complained to a member of staff.

“They really need to provide more toilets for disabled people,” she said.

“There were 10,000 people there. I am speaking out for disabled people in general. People might look at me, for example, and think ‘she’s all right’.

“There might be people there who might find themselves in my position in future and I don’t want anybody else to have that feeling.

“If they have different areas with toilets they should have a disabled toilet at each one.”

A spokesman for Musselburgh Racecourse said: “We are sorry to learn that a disabled customer had difficulty accessing suitable toilet facilities. In catering for a 10,000 capacity crowd, adequate toilet provision is a high priority and over the years we have consistently increased the number and the quality of the outlets available to race-goers.

“We believe we have adequate disabled toilet facilities located in the grandstand and at the main entrances which are comfortable, well-equipped and easy to access. Staff are on duty at these facilities and are briefed to ensure they are kept free for disabled users and not used as an overflow for other toilets.

“We are happy to advise any race-goer of available disabled facilities so that they may find a suitable location which allows them easy access when required. We will consider this issue in our operational review and look at how we improve the comfort and convenience of all race-goers as we put plans in place for next year’s Ladies Day.”