LANCASHIRE County Council is to make improving public toilet provision a priority to help suffers from bowel and urinary conditions after hearing how it affects sufferers.

Conservative Cllr Andrew Snowden told last week's full meeting of the authority of his wife Caroline's struggle with two of the most serious conditions - Crohn's Disease and Colitis.

Both can result in painful and uncontrollable diarrhea and passing of blood. Around 300,000 people across the country are thought to have these conditions.

In early 2016, aged 31, Mrs Snowden had to have life-saving surgery.

Thee county council resolved to work with national charity Crohn's and Colitis UK to: create a better understanding of the disease; to improve public and private toilet access; and ensure the authority leads by example in its employment practices.

Hoghton with Wheelton's Cllr Snowden said: "Inflammatory bowel disorders like these are incredibly painful, exhausting and stressful. Access to toilets has not always been seen as a public health issue. This has to change."