A toilet block along Sheringham's sea front that sold for �104,000 was bought as a 30th wedding anniversary present.

Cawston builder Nick Willan snapped up the loo with a view for his wife Sue, and paid more than double the expected price of between �30,000-50,000.

The two-storey toilet block on the east prom came up for auction at DeVere Dunston Hall in Norwich on Thursday. Mr Willan won an intense bidding war between 10 people.

After triumphing, he said it was an anniversary gift, and added: 'It has awesome views. You just can't beat it.'

He said he intended to put in a spiral staircase and a mezzanine floor.

Mrs Willan said: 'It's quite a mess, but I can imagine it done up and looking out to sea. I know what he can do, so I can imagine it being liveable.'

The building, which is more than 100 years old and no longer suitable for its former use as public toilets, has planning consent for change of use to a single unit of holiday accommodation.

Bryan Baxter, auctioneer with Auction House East Anglia, who auctioned off the property on behalf of North Norfolk District Council, said: 'There were lots of bidders. At least 10 people tried to buy the block and in the end it was a battle between two bidders.'

Trevor Ivory, cabinet member for communications at the council, said: 'It is more than we had expected. We were hopeful of getting the guide price so to have got something which is more than double that estimate is fantastic. It pays for the construction of a new toilet block in Sheringham and leaves money left over for other projects.'

The old toilets date back to about 1900, with later additions, but were shut in 2006 because they were unsuitable for modern use.

The new toilet block to replace it has a design with alternate coloured doors for a beach hut look, features six unisex toilet cubicles, gents' urinals, a disabled toilet, a baby change room, shower, and drinking fountain.

Three years ago the property world was stunned when two-storey public convenience near Fulham Broadway in London was sold for �403,000 - four times the guide price - after it was flagged up as a great site for a club, school or cafe.

The previous year a one-storey loo in the Scottish golfing town of St Andrews sold for �195,000 - also more than four times the expected figure.