Radlett United Synagogue is changing the taps in its toilets following wilful damage by young congregants.

In a recent incident, floors in the gents cloakroom were flooded after sink plugholes were blocked with paper towels and the taps left running.

Shul chair Alex Pomerance said the “destructive” prank could cause elderly congregants to slip. “Sadly it is not an isolated incident as this has happened quite a few times before in both the gents and ladies toilets.”

In consequence, and at a cost of almost £1,000, the shul will change all cloakroom taps to models which dispense just enough water for a quick hand-rinse.

An appeal has also been made to parents to keep a closer eye on their children during services.

However, youngsters were again spotted “messing around with the water” in the toilets at last Friday’s service, athough the leakage was not as severe as the previous week.

Last November, three cubicles in the ladies toilets were wrecked by schoolgirls, at a cost of more than £850 to the shul.