Drainage workers trying to get to the bottom of a toilet blockage at Cineworld in Ilford were surprised to discover the trouble was caused by a pair of sunglasses.

It appears an unlucky cinemagoer had mislaid his shades in the gents’ toilets at the cinema in Clements Road.

Workers from Metro Rod West Essex made the discovery on Sunday and the sunglasses were left with staff in case the owner wants to retrieve them.

Office manager Lorraine Davis said: “It’s far from the weirdest thing found in those toilets - once there was a pair of jeans with tags on.

“The glasses were in a very dirty toilet - no matter how much you disinfect them, I wouldn’t put them on my face.”

Cineworld manager Scott Watson said the blockage caused “chaos”.

He added: “There was a very bad smell for a while. They’ve found all sorts in the toilets, there are some very strange people.”