Two East Lancashire beauty spots are to get new fully accessible Changing Places toilets to help the severely disabled enjoy visiting them.

The £156,000 scheme will see the state-of-the-art lavatories complete with showers installed at the Clitheroe Castle Park and Edisford riverbank of the River Ribble in the town.

The new toilets will feature hoists, curtains, showers, grab rails, adult-sized changing benches, privacy screens and space for carers.

They are expected to be in operation by June.

People with severe disabilities often face the option of being stuck at home, limiting fluid intake on days out, or the unhygienic and undignified prospect of having to be changed on dirty toilet floors.

Now they will be able to visit two of Clitheroe’s most popular beauty spots in comfort and dignity.

The new toilets are being funded by the government and Ribble Valley Borough Council, and the project overseen by Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Ribble Valley Council leader, Councillor Stephen Atkinson, said: “People with severe disabilities or restricted mobility cannot use standard accessible toilets, as they do not provide changing benches or hoists and most are too small to accommodate more than one person.

“This means they face major barriers to shopping, going out, or travelling, or their carer is forced to change them on a toilet floor, which is dangerous, unhygienic and undignified.

“We take the visitor economy seriously in Ribble Valley and have built a strong narrative over the years on being a friendly and attractive borough, and these toilets will ensure that we can extend a warm welcome to even more people at two of our most popular visitor spots.”

Ribble Valley Council’s tourism and events officer, Tom Pridmore, added: “The Clitheroe Castle park and Edisford are very popular and already provide some inclusive facilities, including wheelchair and pushchair-friendly walkways, and dedicated riverbank parking.

“But we want to continue making the borough’s public spaces as accessible as possible and these toilets will extend a warm welcome to people with severe disabilities.”

Work on the toilets is expected to be completed by June in time for the summer season.