Live webcam to be installed outside Dereham public toilets

Dereham Town Council will be putting up a webcam outside Barwell's Court public toilets as a deterrent against future vandalism.

People will be able to watch the footage from the camera system on the council's website.

The decision, which is estimated to cost the council £2,500, follows an incident in January when a wheelie bin was rolled into the urinals and set alight, leaving £9,000 worth of damage.

Photos show a scorched floor and smoked urinal (Image: Dereham Town Council) A teenager was then charged with two counts of arson.

The teenager's appearance in King's Lynn Youth Court has been adjourned until April 25.

The urinals, which have been closed to the public while work to repair the damage was carried out, will be reopened this weekend.

A photo taken in early February of the urinals which will be open to the public this weekend (Image: Newsquest) As part of measures to improve safety for the toilets, the council will be also installing timed locks on the cubicles, which have also been vandalised before. 

Footage from the live webcam will be available on the council's website. 

Other places across the county use webcams to offer a taste of the Norfolk landscape like the peregrines at Norwich Cathedral and Sheringham's seafront.