HIGH street shops and restaurants will be asked to open their loos to the public as part of a council drive to provide more toilet facilities in Bolton.

Town hall bosses will launch a “loo review” in the New Year, then create a map of the town centre, showing where shoppers can spend a penny for free.

They have decided to approach large department stores and restaurants because they say providing “ugly” stand-alone toilets would be too expensive.

Council chiefs hope retailers will agree because of the potential benefit of getting more people through their doors.

Cllr Elaine Sherrington, the council’s executive member for cleaner, greener, safer, said cafes, cinemas and theatres will also be asked to join the scheme, which will see toilet facilities in public buildings improved as well.

She said: “We’re looking at how we can use facilities better without having to build blocks of public toilets.

“Most places have toilets, so there’s no point in building more when they are already there. We need to see what other facilities can be used and get that message across to the public.”

A spokesman for Marks and Spencer, which provides toilet facilities for customers, stopped short of backing the idea but said the company was willing to discuss it with the council.

Debenhams was unavailable for comment.

For more on this story, read Thursday's paper.