Weekend revellers caught using Manchester city centre as a public toilet were ordered to pay up – or clean up.

Greater Manchester Police went out on patrol armed with a mop, bucket and disinfectant to shame those who relieved themselves in the street.

Drinkers spotted urinating in public were given a warning letter by officers.

They were then offered the option of either cleaning up their own mess or running the risk of an on-the-spot fine.

Although revellers cannot be fined for simply urinating in the street, GMP said that those who ‘kick off’ when challenged may find themselves having to pay up – £80 for drunk and disorderly or £50 for being drunk in public.

The patrol – dubbed Operation Urination – caught four young men between 9pm and midnight.

Two friends over on a trip from Ireland to see United were spotted urinating in an alleyway across from Deansgate Locks.

The men, aged 22 and 27, were on the way to the Printworks and said they simply couldn’t wait to use a toilet.

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One, who works as an engineer in Ireland, said: “I’ve had about 20 pints today so I was bursting. I thought it would be easiest just to nip down here, all guys do it.”

But Joan Davis, Labour councillor for the city centre, who accompanied police on the patrol, was not impressed by the excuses.

She said: “Not all guys do it. Many men will plan ahead so there is no need to urinate in the street, and you don’t see so many girls urinating in public. Somehow they manage to wait.

“Residents and business owners shouldn’t have to live with the smell and sight of urine.

“It’s unhygienic and unfair that they have to clean up other peoples’ mess.”

Joel Goodman's video below shows the police operation, with officers accompanied by Councillor Joan Davis:

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One business owner with premises in the Northern Quarter said he faced a constant battle with urination — and even worse – outside the building.

He explained: “Business is lost if clients come to the building and it looks and smells like a toilet. Bluntly, they will not return.”

GMP will now continue to carry and hand out the letters on their regular patrols over the weekends leading up to the festive season.

Although everybody stopped by police agreed to clean up their mess, not all were entirely repentant.

A 21-year-old student from Baguley caught urinating in a corner of Castlefield told us: “If there were public toilets around here we wouldn't have to do this.

“If I'm being honest I'd do this again if I didn't think the police were watching. Although I wouldn't ever do it outside someone's house as that's not fair.”

Inspector Phil Spurgeon, who led the patrol, said that revellers often used the excuse of public toilet provision when challenged.

He added: “But in my experience most of those people have recently left premises with a toilet or are on their way to one.

“To put it bluntly, they should tie a knot in it.”