AN artist has taken the idea of spending a penny one step further by attaching real pennies to work he has created in a service station's toilets.

Terry Kneeshaw was commissioned by family firm Penny Petroleum to carry out the work at Sadberge Service Station, near Darlington, which opened last month.

The aim was to create a synergy with the name Penny Petroleum – the operator of the site – and make the toilets a more attractive place.

Penny Petroleum now plans to use the concept at more of its sites, using local artists to create individual artworks.

Mr Kneeshaw said: “My job is to make these toilets into works of art and I think I have achieved that.

“We will be doing several more of these and opening them up to more artists to get involved.

“Artists spend their lives trying to get to the stage where they can display in wonderful establishments like The Louvre.

"Well I can say after all these years – 40 years as a professional artist – I have finally made ‘The Loo-uvre’.”

Liz Chapman, a director at Darlington-based marketing company Just Think, which employs Mr Kneeshaw, said visitors to the toilets were also being encouraged to donate a penny to Penny Petroleum’s chosen charity.

She said: “One area where service stations can let people down is the loo. When Penny Petroleum saw Terry’s artwork on display at our offices he was commissioned for the design.

“Terry has always had an ambition to bring art to the public’s attention, but never thought he would be producing art for the public’s convenience.”