Two new public convenience blocks are set to open in north Norfolk next week, after the completion of projects by North Norfolk District Council (NNDC).

NNDC chairman John Perry-Warnes will conduct the two opening ceremonies in Sheringham at 11am and North Walsham at 12.30pm on Tuesday.

New toilets on Sheringham east promenade, next to the Anglian Water pumping station, will be open year-round during the day instead of only seasonally.

It replaces a block closed in 2006 due to poor state of repair. Since 2006 toilets on the east prom have been provided with a temporary arrangement with a unit brought in by crane at the start of every season and removed at the end.

Funding for the new block has been provided by the sale of the old block.

The new toilets have been designed to have the appearance of beach huts, are fully Disability Discrimination Act compliant and include a shower, baby change and drinking water.

Built by contractors Thrower & Rutland, based in Felthorpe near Norwich, they also feature environmentally friendly designs, with clear panels in the roof helping reduce the need for electric lighting during daylight hours and a rainwater harvesting system.

Wyndham Northam, NNDC's cabinet member for corporate assets, said: 'The new toilets are a huge improvement for Sheringham.

'They have been carefully designed to fit attractively into Sheringham and will be a benefit to all.'

In North Walsham the Vicarage Street toilet project is part of the redevelopment of the derelict 4 Market Street building, adjacent to the existing public conveniences and close to St Nicholas Court.

The new toilets should have been ready in March but were held up by problems co-ordinating the installation of electricity, water and sewerage which resulted in Vicarage Street being dug up three times.

Trevor Ivory, NNDC's cabinet member for localism, said: 'The new toilets are a huge improvement on the current facilities, which are long past their best. But the real importance of this significant investment by the council is that it removes one of the barriers on the owner of 4 Market Street from redeveloping that site, which has been an eyesore for too long.

'Now that the toilets have been moved our priority will be to work with the owner of 4 Market Street to see action.'

The new facility at Vicarage Street is located on the edge of the newly resurfaced car park.

North Walsham mayor Dave Robertson said: 'This is excellent news.

'I look forward to seeing proposals come forward for the redevelopment and improvement of that site and the removal of the old toilet block.'