IF you’re looking to spend a penny whilst you’re out spending a few pounds, there is little chance you will be caught short in Worcester city centre.

Newly-released figures show that whilst cash-strapped councils across the country pull the plug on public toilets, Worcester City Council has only closed one since 2000.

Data gathered from the British Toilet Association through a freedom of information request shows the council currently operates 12 toilets in the city, a drop of just one.

In terms of averages, Worcester is aflush with toilets with one public convenience for every 8,526 residents compared to one for every 10,930 people in the UK.

A Worcester City Council spokesman said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy all that Worcester has to offer when they’re out and about in our city, so the city council is committed to ensuring residents and visitors have the facilities they need.

“We’ve just opened new public toilets in the rebuilt Sons of Rest pavilion in Gheluvelt Park, part of improved facilities just yards from the ever-popular Splashpad.”

The shape of facilities in towns and cities across the country comes as the British Toilet Association starts its ‘Use Our Looks’ campaign to encourage businesses to open their toilets to non-customers.

Local authorities can come to an agreement with private businesses to open their amenities for the public in exchange for a payment or a tax credit.

Raymond Martin, director of the British Toilet Association, said: “We know that councils are under immense pressure with their budgets and despite having no legal obligation to maintain these public facilities, they have continued to try to reverse the rate of decline.

“Use our Loos is a community-oriented solution not about opening more toilets but making more toilets that already exist accessible to the public.”