FIRST-class public toilets are on their way to Worcester after councillors agreed proposals to upgrade the loos and charge people 20p per visit.

Worcester City Council's cabinet on Tuesday approved the radical plans to remove the automated toilet in Copenhagen Street and close the All Hallows site, near South Quay.

The facilities in Angel Place - the most used public conveniences in the city - will have a £120,000 overhaul and, if successful, those in Cornmarket and Croft Road will follow suit.

The toilets in the Bull Ring and Gheluvelt Park will remain open for the immediate future.

Councillors praised the plans for achieving the difficult double task of improving the facilities on offer and saving money more than £170,000.

Cabinet leader Stephen Inman said: "A great deal of work has gone in and I think we have come up with options that weren't thought to be available a few months ago."

"We need to get away from the idea that these facilities are shabby and grotty and we have to aim to provide five-star toilets."

Councillors also agreed to give the cathedral a £50,000 grant to make their temporary toilets permanent in a project hailed as 'successful partnership working'.

No jobs will be lost by the closures and all toilets, once upgraded, will cost 20p to visit.