A PENSIONER has appealed for his local council to "spend a penny" to prevent him enduring another winter with an outside toilet.

Joe Birkett, 70, said that he cannot cope any longer with just the external loo, which is at the rear of his property in Station Road, Huncoat.

With winter approaching he has contacted Hyndburn Council for help.

And after talking to the window cleaner, council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said that he wanted to make it the authority's policy to eradicate the "unacceptable" problem of homes with no internal toilet.

It is thought that there could be up to 50 households in the area in a similar position and improvement work at houses could run into thousands of pounds.

Mr Birkett said: "I have lived here most of my life and I've always coped. My bathroom is very small and there just isn't much room for a toilet so I've always just used the outside one."

He said that he lives alone and has never thought of it as a top priority to change.

Mr Birkett added: "It is really cold in the winter - even the spiders have gloves on.

"I just make sure that I use the loo as little as possible.

I have a pot by my bed if I need to go in the night!

"The situation is a bit of a nightmare and I never relish the prospect of going out there first thing in the morning."

Coun Britcliffe said that something had to be done to help Mr Birkett and people like him.

He said: "It is not acceptable in this day and age that there are people only have access to an outside toilet.

"Next year there will be money made available for people like Mr Birkett in a toilet replacement scheme.

"We need to make sure that a grant is available and that it is open ended enough to work.

"There shouldn't be anyone in this borough who is in this situation."