Shoppers in Carlisle will be relieved to hear that work on new toilets in The Lanes shopping centre will start later this month.

Since 2014, those using the shopping centre have had to answer a call of nature in temporary toilets located in a portable unit near the main square.

But soon shoppers will - once again - have permanent facilities to use.

The old Lanes toilets, which were award-winning, closed in 2014 to make way for Ed's Easy Diner, a 1950s-style American-themed restaurant.

It closed in October last year and a tenant is still being sought for that unit.

David Jackson, commercial director of The Lanes, said: "Work will start on new toilets for The Lanes on January 23, which is good news."

The toilets will be located on the first floor - opposite the library and at the top of the escalator on the right hand side.

They will be accessed by the stairs, escalator or the lift.

The offices where the toilets will be based will move inside the library.

Mr Jackson said: "The offices opposite the library will be demolished and then the toilets will be built.

"The county council is sorting out the move of equipment from the offices into the main library building."

Planning permission to move the toilets upstairs from where they used to be was granted by Carlisle City Council in 2014.

The old loos picked up a platinum award from the British Toilet Association in December 2013 after they had picked up the gold award for the previous seven years running.

Mr Jackson said the new toilets was the first project The Lanes would be embarking on this year.

"It's going to be a busy year for us with new retailers coming in, more space being created and hence more jobs," he said.