A FORMER public toilet has taken on a new role in the market town of Kirkbymoorside, as an all-embracing community office.

The centre, funded by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, Ryedale District Council, the town council, Business Link and other agencies, provides the area with a comprehensive one-stop shop - including a council office, tourist information and police station.

Ryedale MP John Greenway will also use it as his surgery.

For many years the building, in The Shambles, was a well-known fish and chip shop but became a public loo in the 1950's a role it kept until about four years ago.