HEAT, light fittings and running water have finally been installed in the infamous Hawes urinals - but it could be weeks before light is shed on the gents.

Until recently, the lavatories in the town centre were not much more than a dimly-lit indoor gutter tucked away under the banking of the A684, which forms the Wensleydale market town's high street.

It was hoped that an attempt to have them listed would speed up an upgrade - at least until the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority rejected the idea.

But, after years of campaigning, the parish council persuaded the district authority to adopt the toilets as their own in November and it was confirmed the facilities would be fitted with mod cons.

Heating, electric light, tiling, the latest hand-drier and a modern wash-basin, soap and paper towel dispensers have all now been installed.

However, some of the new facilities still do not work as the building has yet to be connected to the electricity supply.

"It's very frustrating as, after months of negotiation and research into ownership, what was once not much more than a cube-shaped hole in the wall can at last boast some modern facilities - but many of them don't yet work," said Richmondshire District Council's planning chief, Patrick Earle.

He said: "The delay appears to have been the result of some sort of shortcoming in communications with the electricity company, but we will be doing everything we can to short-circuit the problem."

A spokesman for NEDL confirmed the company was aware the council was keen to find an early solution.

However, he said: "We now have to get permission from people who own surrounding properties to install the supply and these things can take anything from a week to a few months."