City coats historic Roman walls with anti-pee paint as drunken revellers experience unexpected splash-backs

Chester council officials are seeking to deter men from urinating against walls. Photo / Twitter / @go_cheshirewest

The historic walls of Chester have been coated in anti-pee paint to stop drunken revellers urinating on them after an evening out.

The Roman city is known for its Grade I-listed, 2,000-year-old walls built by the Romans in 70AD to protect Chester from Welsh attacks.

But the council said its fragile sandstone walls are being damaged - and the city's beauty ruined - by drunk partygoers and visitors desperate to relieve themselves.

Now the ancient brickwork has been coated with hydrophobic paint, called Ultra-Ever-Dry, which causes splash-back - leaving the guilty person with an unexpected soaking.

The council has released a humorous video and is promoting it via social media, on beer mats and posters.

It shows a bearded "hipster" enjoying a night out in Chester, with the script reading: "Every night people are out; laughing and having fun.

"But at the end of the night, a creature emerges. It has no respect for the city and pees in dark corners. But we are fighting back!"

It’s pee-back time! Chester walls take revenge on urinating Christmas partygoers https://t.co/9Uqm9TFkFa pic.twitter.com/NvdE8EpROz

— Cheshire West (@Go_CheshireWest) December 2, 2016

Cllr Karen Shore, the council's cabinet member for environment, said: "Most party-goers will enjoy the festive season and respect our beautiful city.

"However, a minority are damaging historic structures by using the city centre as a public toilet. The liquid-repelling paint has been applied in secret locations across the city.

"Anyone spending a penny in public this festive season may get more than they bargained for."

The famous walls are a two-mile sandstone circuit and represent one of Chester's most popular tourist attractions.

The Romans began building them between 70AD and 80AD as a defensive structure to protect the city and fortress.

Apart from a 100-metre section, the walls almost completely surrounded the ancient city section of Chester, with a number of 'gate' entrances.