A BLOCK of vandalised public toilets which has been locked for the past five weeks are to be reopened.

The council-owned toilets in Captain Street, Horwich, were repaired and painted in time for the Commonwealth Games but have since been permanently closed after the inside was wrecked.

But Lib Dem Horwich councillor, Bob Ronson, who received complaints from residents within his ward, contacted Commercial Services at Bolton Council, who said the doors to the ladies', gents' and disabled toilets were to be reopened.

June Smullen, aged 68, of Hilton Ave, owns a key for the disabled toilet and said that over the past few weeks she has been able to let herself in even though the block was locked, but refused to use the toilet because there was no chain on the toilet and no plumbing.

A spokesman from Bolton Council said: "There has been a problem of continual vandalism in these toilets. The last time it was quite serious and caused flooding throughout the building.

"Work to repair this damage is now at the top of the council's list and hopefully, if contractors and parts can be organised, the toilets will be reopened this week."