GAZETTE & HERALD: BUS drivers and travellers needing to spend a penny will have to cross their legs after the loos next to Chippenham's bus station were shut down this week.

North Wiltshire District Council made the decision to close the well-used toilets in Timber Street following a small fire in the ladies two weeks ago.

The Gazette and Herald received an anonymous tip off from a worker at the district council on Tuesday.

The man said: "It's disgusting. Those toilets are right next to the bus station and used a lot by coach drivers and elderly people."

A spokesman for North Wiltshire District Council said the cost of repairing the facilities would be between £6,000 and £7,000.

She said: "At present there is no money in this year's budget to undertake the works."

It is understood that a meeting was held last week and the council decided to close the toilets with immediate effect, as well as the bus station's waiting room.

Coun Sylvia Doubell, a member of the council's executive committee, said the council did not have to run toilets and could save itself £200,000 a year if it closed all the conveniences in north Wiltshire.

The nearest public toilets are in Borough Parade and Bath Road car park.