Woman buys public toilet block to turn into holiday home

It doesn't quite have the same cache as a villa on the French Riviera - but a woman in Gloucestershire has bought a toilet block to turn into a holiday home.

Louise Houston, from Port Isaac in Cornwall, is flushed with success (sorry!) after securing the Cheltenham-based block at auction for £35,000.

Mrs Houston's five children live in Cheltenham, and she intends to turn the block - which has views over the Severn Valley - into a holiday pad for when she goes to visit them.

She told thisisgloucestershire.co.uk: 'Until now, I've been sleeping on sofas when I visit Cheltenham, so I would love to have somewhere of my own to lay my head. It is rather bijou, but there's only going to be me living there.'

Auctioneer John Richards said he was not surprised by the level of interest, but confessed he was shocked at the final price paid.

'I thought it might go for between £25,000 and £30,000, but it far exceeded that,' he said.

With an electricity and water supply already in place, all the brick-built block now needs is some TLC to get it up to scratch.

The former toilet, which was previously owned by Tewkesbury Borough Council, was closed down in 2009 leaving the tourist spot without a public convenience.

Chairman of the Southam Parish Council, Pat Sullivan, wrote to the Echo following the closure, criticising the council's decision.

Yesterday, when we informed him of the sale, he said: 'I'm quite surprised at this.

'I think it would have been useful if the borough council had reintroduced the toilets.'

But Mrs Houston might beg to differ...