A PETITION has been launched in a bid save public toilets from the axe.

Tendring Council wants to shut ten local lavvies across the district in a £60,000 cost-cutting move.

But campaigners in Walton and Frinton are determined to block the closures.

They have launched an on-line petition to get support ... called 'We Want a Wee'.

Campaign organiser Steven Walker said: “ The response to the petition has been brilliant. After just two days we already have nearly 200 signatures on the on-line petition.

"People are feeling very angry about this short-sighted plan.

"The council has £24million in reserves, £4million of which is available in this year’s budget, so they do not need to cut this service to save money.

"Current house-building projects mean that the number of residents is set to increase by over 1,000. They will all need to use a public toilet.

"Instead of closing a vital public service councillors should be upgrading existing facilities to make them disabled accessible.”

Mr Walker said closing public loos could make the district less attractive to tourists.

"Tendring has a large elderly and disabled population as well as many visitors who need access to toilets," he said.

"Closing public toilets will thwart council plans to regenerate the area, harm the tourist economy and make it an unattractive place to visit.

"Local people pay on average £150 annually in local taxes to Tending Council, which is a lot of pennies to be able to pee."