Visitors attending to a call of nature in one South Lakeland village this week are in for a treat as the community unveiled its lovingly restored public toilet.

After a year of fund-raising antics and DIY, the Lindale Sports Committee officially reopened the lavatory on Thursday - complete with the luxurious touch of an automated air freshener.

The sports-field loo had been doomed to flush its last in June 2002 when South Lakeland District Council locked it up as part of the authority's controversial cost-cutting policy to dispense with around half of the district's public toilets.

But the village sports committee decided to take on the toilets to serve passers by, coach parties and, crucially, Lindale's annual sports day which was recently revived for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Since then the community has been galvanised into action for its convenience cause celebre. At the Lindale Post Office and General Store, villagers have been spending pounds on the National Lottery to ensure people can go on spending a penny in the public toilet. Proprietors Jane and John Hodgson persuaded 49 customers to stump up £1 each for a number in their bonus ball sweepstake. The weekly winner gets £20 leaving the left-over loot to pay for the loo's £29 cleaning bill. Fellow resident Nigel Dykes went so far as running the London Marathon to help raise £50.

The sports committee also staged numerous events to raise funds and its profile, including a sixties party and Lindale's very first Christmas do. Boosting their coffers further were gratefully-received donations including £250 from the parish council and £600 from the Neighbourhood Forum plus a £700 grant from the village's Newton Hibbert Taylor Trust.

It has all helped go towards meeting the £1,200 running costs - £2,800 less than what was spent annually by SLDC. Committee chairman Sue Wareing said the group had economised by keeping the loos open for just seven months instead of 12, finding a local cleaner who will spruce up the toilet once not twice a week as was council routine and by using plenty of voluntary labour.

Such volunteers have already put in around 70 man hours to transform the lavatories into a set of more desirable thrones. Committee member Ron Wareing, a plumber by trade, fitted new sinks, soap dispensers and paper towel holders. Plus there is the automatic air freshener to introduce permanent spring freshness into the atmosphere and get rid of what Mrs Wareing described as an "earthy" smell. Outside, the grey rendered building has been freshened up with a lick of cream paint.

Bespoke features include ladies and gents signs crafted by the local blacksmith Robert Moorhouse and new flooring donated by Kendal Carpets. A bird box and a bat box have even been mounted on the exterior to benefit the village's airborne residents a move inspired by a Lindale villager who works for the Environment Agency.

"People have been really generous," said Mrs Wareing, adding that the project had really galvanised community spirit in Lindale. "Before we resurrected the sports club it was pretty non-existent, but people's response has been great. We can't believe it really."

Future developments may include the rebirth of the toilets again as an eco-loo. Ian Sisson, of development firm Priory Buildings and a committee member, is interested in installing a rainwater collection tank to gather water for flushing the loos which would be power-pumped around the U-bend by a solar panel mounted on the roof.

The committee has already applied for a £1,700 grant to fund the green dream that could cut their £500 water bill by £300.

But for now the group is happy to have the village loo in service again in time for sports day on May 25. At Thursday's opening supporters gathered to see SLDC contract services manager Chris Fidler, who has helped support the committee in its loo takeover, declare the conveniences officially open.

May 9, 2003 10:30