PUB landlords in Sedgefield have appealed for public lavatories in the village to be reopened.

The lavatories were closed by Sedgefield Town Council last June, because of vandalism and problems in finding someone to clean and look after them.

Pub landlords say the result has been visitors, including children, being forced to enter their pubs simply to go to the lavatory.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Sedgefield Pub and Club Watch this week.

Group secretary Alan Richards, landlord of the Hope Inn, said he had written to the town council twice about the problem.

But it has been decided not to reopen the lavatories because of the difficulty of finding someone to clean them.

He was also told the issue would not be discussed again for at least six months.

Neil Hetherington, from the Nag's Head said: "I think they have pushed the problem on to the pubs, rather than trying to solve it themselves.

Dun Cow landlord Geoff Rayner said: "I am sure this issue affects a lot more people around the village than just the pubs."

PC Keith Todd, beat officer for the village, said: "From a police point of view, it does not look good if youngsters and under-age people are seen to be coming out of pubs. It is giving the wrong impression."

Town clerk Lesley Swinbank said she appreciated the concerns of the landlords and the council was looking for someone who would be prepared to repair the lavatories.

She pointed out that lavatories in the council offices were open to the public during the day, and said the public lavatories had always been locked in the evenings, even when they were in operation