Two Portscatho residents have come up with a novel way to breathe new life into the village's public toilets - by turning them into a café.

Sarah Newton MP has congratulated everyone involved in the refurbishment, which has seen the toilet block turned into Tatam’s café.

Proprietors Simon and Jemma will be keeping the establishment's toilets open for the public to use free of charge.

Sarah said: "It is great to see how innovative use of publically owned space can deliver real benefits for the community. The Portscatho public toilets’ previous dependency on subsidy from hard pressed local taxpayers has come to an end, whilst the toilets themselves are brighter and better than ever before. This really is a win for ratepayer and user alike.

"Of course the block is also now home to a great new business, whose refreshments will be enjoyed by both residents and visitors.  I wish Simon and Jemma the very best for the future and am grateful to them, to Portscatho Parish Council and to Cornwall Council for enabling this transformation to take place. As Cornwall Council looks at how it can deliver value for taxpayer’s money whilst providing first class public services it should be looking closely at the pioneering Portscatho way."

The conversion was supported throughout by Gerrans Parish Council, and was earlier this year permitted by Cornwall Council.