WARNING: Contains graphic image

Sittingbourne shopping centre bosses are "appalled" by a fake Facebook page set up in their name - including a picture of a disabled toilet splattered in faeces.

The page purporting to be for The Forum centre appeared innocent with its first posting on Sunday.

But in just over an hour, the creator began posting offensive messages and pictures including the image of the filthy toilet.

The first message read: "Be sure to check in to catch great offers as well as keeping up to date with news of what's going on in our busy retail center [sic]. Happy shopping."

But a message soon after, attached to the image of the filthy toilet, claimed the facilities had been closed after a drunk man collapsed "in a heap of his own excrement".

It said: "As many of you may have seen, police and paramedics were called to The Forum today around lunchtime, after a heavily intoxicated man had to be stretchered from the public lavatories after collapsing in a heap of his own excrement.

"The man, who has requested to remain anonymous, was taken to Medway hospital where he was subsequently hosed down and told to go home and sober up.

"The toilets will be closed until tomorrow morning. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

The image resulted in 151 people commenting on the image.

One person wrote: "Why would you post this? This is highly unprofessional and really inappropriate.

"Alcoholism is a disease. You wouldn't have posted this had it been a pensioner or a disabled person."

Another said: "Why did The Forum feel the need to post the photo? Is it in your handbook telling you to post photos and ridicule people on Facebook and Twitter etc? If a school did this it would be bullying.”

It it believed the page, which also had a picture of a used condom uploaded to it, was taken down from Facebook at some point yesterday.

Reacting to the posts, Forum centre manager Francesca Donovan said: "We are appalled that someone has made this fake page.

"We pride ourselves on the role we play in the community and this page has been set up without our knowledge or consent.

"We pride ourselves on the role we play in the community and this page has been set up without our knowledge or consent..." - Forum centre manager

"It is terrible to think that some of our customers may have seen the posts and thought they were genuinely made by us.

"As soon as we became aware of this violation we naturally took action and have contacted Facebook and asked for the page to be taken down.

"On behalf of everyone at The Forum I apologise to anyone who may have been offended or upset by any of the postings made by this individual or individuals.

"We hope to have this matter resolved as soon as possible."

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