The streets of St Pauli are lined with trendy bars, clubs and music venues - as well as brothels - which attract more than 20 million visitors each year.

But the lively spirit - which famously attracted the pre-mop top Beatles more than 50 years ago - has a downside for local residents.

Boozy party-goers stumble out of bars and strip-clubs and bars along the length of the famous Reeperbahn and urinate against houses and on the streets.

Now, a local community group is fighting back by covering the walls with hydrophobic paint which literally makes water droplets bounce off.

“Prohibitions and fines do scarcely anything,” said a member of IG St Pauli, the community group behind the scheme.

“So we decided to solve the problem our own way. Now, St Pauli pees back.”

Anyone hoping to relieve themselves on walls around the neighbourhood must now reckon with the risk of soaking their shoes and trousers.

“Watch out! From now on, it’s peeback time,” added Julia Staron of IG St Pauli.