More than £50,000 is to be spent giving public toilets in Braintree town centre a much-needed facelift.

The women's facility at George Yard Shopping Centre is to be internally demolished and refurbished at a cost of £31,000.

This means the block will be out-of-bounds for a month while the improvements are carried out.

Meanwhile, £20,000 is to be spent immediately afterwards upgrading the men's toilets to the same standard.

Centre manager Derek Salmon has described the facelift as a "substantial investment" in the town centre.

He added: "The toilets were not built to a good standard when they first opened ten years ago and we recognise they are not up to scratch.

"Our shopping centre is visited by 80,000 people a week and, of that total, in the region of 80 per cent use our public toilets. That's why giving them such a substantial upgrade represents great news for everyone and an investment in the town centre."

According to Mr Salmon, the toilets at George Yard are recognised as the only ones in the town centre despite the fact there is a block at the bus station.

A disabled toilet facility next door will also be available to use while the work is carried out.

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