People in Backwell face losing their only public toilets.

They have been closed for the past 12 months after they were vandalised.

Now North Somerset Council has decided to shut the toilets at the village's playing fields permanently.

The council has been carrying out a review of all of its public toilets in a drive to reduce the amount of cash it spends on its conveniences.

Villagers had hoped that cash would be found to open them again, because the playing fields are very popular and used by thousands.

Backwell Parish Council is considering setting up a working party to discuss with North Somerset Council re-opening the lavatories.

Backwell Parish Council chairman councillor Colin Pope said he was concerned people would be forced into the bushes by the playing fields to answer the call of nature.

Cllr Pope said: "This is the only public convenience and the parish council is extremely concerned that it is going to be permanently closed.

"The playing fields are very well used, and people may have no option but to use the bushes if they need to relieve themselves."

The 17-acre site is owned by the Backwell Playing Fields Charity.

Backwell Playing Fields Charity chairman Michael Pratt said: "These toilets are on our land, but we cannot refurbish them and open them because we do not have the funds.

"We are happy to work with the parish council to look at ways of re-opening the toilets."

North Somerset Council has been running the loos for several years.

North Somerset Council spokeswoman Zoe Briffitt said: "They have been closed for 12 months due to vandalism and on April 1 we handed back responsibility for the toilets to the charity.

"It was not viable for the council to continue running them."