By Ross Brewster

Last updated 11:56, Saturday, 11 October 2008

Worshippers at a valley church in the Lake District have an extra reason to pray for short sermons.

Lucy's Loo: Churchwarden Lucy Bestley has launched an appeal so that her church can have its first toilet

When you go you’ve got to go, but parishioners at St Andrew’s Church in the little hamlet of Stonethwaite in the Borrowdale valley have been keeping their legs crossed for years due to the lack of toilet facilities.

Now churchwarden Lucy Bestley has decided to do something about it. She has launched a campaign for Lucy’s Loo, to provide a toilet for churchgoers before she retires after 10 years’ service.

She said: “It is a lovely little church in a wonderful setting, but its one fault is it doesn’t have a loo.”

Lucy has raised the problem at church meetings, but there has never been the money to provide a toilet. There is a small building at the side of the church perfect for the job, but the church is not connected to mains water.

She said: “At the moment it’s a case of hopping behind a bush, which is okay if you are a man, but can be a bit prickly for the ladies. Or just pray that we can get through to the end of a service.”

The first fundraising concert takes place on Saturday at the church. The vicar, the Rev Gay Pye, said: “It is a case of nipping in the grounds, or prevailing on our neighbours. This is the first fundraising event and we are open to any ideas from locals or visitors to help with the cause.”

Already some local businesses have promised support. A water link can be provided from a nearby farm and Mark Weir of Honister Slate Mine said he could help with tidying up the walls.