Toilets at a country park, which have been closed for ten years, could reopen if councillors agree to spend £77,000 on their refurbishment.

Shotover Country Park, near Headington, Oxford, gets 750,000 visitors a year and the 2,000 acres is often busy with visitors, particularly at weekends.

But because there are no public conveniences, visitors have been forced to cross their legs or go in nearby bushes.

Now Andrew Parsons, head of the council's parks services, has called on city councillors to take action.

Green Party councillor Paul Ingram had proposed installing composting toilets at the park, but the strategy and resources committee heard that it would not be cost-effective in the immediate future.

Councillors agreed to examine their capital programme in June, to see if £77,000 could be found to reopen the toilets.

Mr Parsons said afterwards: "Composting toilets are not practical.

"The sheer volume of use means you would need a tank the size of a tennis court.

"But work to reopen these toilets is long overdue and I hope the money will be allocated in June.

"People who visit the park have just got used to the fact that there aren't any public toilets but it's time something was done.

"There is a brick building which is in place and could be converted fairly easily to provide new toilets."

Mr Parsons said the toilets closed after owners South Oxfordshire District Council said it was no longer prepared to pay for their upkeep.

Oxford City Council bought the toilets block but did not have the funds to keep it open.