It could be loo brushes at 50 paces as a battle looms over the possible closure of one of Malvern's public toilets.

The town council is preparing to square up to Malvern Hills District Council, which decided in February to save £3,000 from its budget.

The most likely victim was identified as the toilet block in the Victoria Road car park.

But at a meeting last Thursday (November 29), town councillors rejected the suggestion that any of the public toilets could be disposed of and resolved to fight any move to do so.

Coun David Williams (Lib Dem, Trinity) said: "I joined local government to provide services for the public and I think it would be very poor to go round town closing public toilets.

"We need more public toilets in the town centre, not less."

Paul Sobczyk, head of client services at the district council, pointed out in a report to the community and environment committee in February that the £3,000 estimated saving was based on a reduction in cleaning costs.

He said further savings would be made from reduced utility and repair costs, and the fact the toilets would be removed from the valuation listing and any future programme of improvements to public conveniences.

The district council has already approved the £3,000 saving for the next financial year.

Mr Sobczyk said this week that the money could still be found elsewhere.

"Had the town council agreed to the proposal to close the Victoria Road convenience, it would have been fairly automatic," he said.

"It will now go back to the Executive Board, which will be presented with the facts.

"It might decide to go ahead, or it may reconsider."

He said the matter would go before MHDC "very early in the New Year".