Cross your legs, the toilets are closed due to... bats.

Those caught short at Hestercombe Gardens country house in Somerset will have to look elsewhere for relief after winged visitors made their public convenience home.

Spokesperson Jemma Gillard says: "A rather unusual event recently took place overnight at Hestercombe Gardens, an independent charity based near Taunton."

"A small colony of lesser horseshoe bats decided to take roost in our ticket office toilets on 2 August."

"The brown coloured bats are the adults, and the grey coloured are the juveniles also known as pups."

The photographs of the snoozing mammals were taken under supervision of licensed bat expert, the Somerset Bat Group, which is part of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and a partner group of the Bat Conservation Trust.

Jemma continues: "The toilets will be closed until our little friends find their way back to the cosy lofts of our Visitor Centre."

"We have other toilets situated near our restaurant, as well as inside Hestercombe House and inside our Water Mill for visitors to use instead."

All bats in the UK are protected by law, so it is not generally possible to remove or rehome them.

According to the UK government, damaging or destroying a breeding or resting place can land a six month prison sentence and unlimited fine.