Cost of spending a penny goes up

The cost of using Northallerton's award winning public "superloo" is going up.

Hambleton Council has agreed to increase the charge by 5p to 25p per visit in a bid to maintain the Applegarth conveniences.

Last year, the toilets were named as a five-star facility for the third time in the national Loo of the Year awards.

Market traders who currently use the facilities free of charge on trading days will also have to start paying to help generate extra income.

The toilets were built almost four years ago at a cost of £130,000 to replace an outdated facility in the centre of the town and are the only attendant-operated toilets in the district.