HEARING of a town being twinned with another town abroad is commonplace, but a charity initiative is also ensuring Okehampton’s toilets have twins abroad too.

Toilet twinning is a fun initiative by two charities, Tear Fund and Cord, in response to the fact that 2.5-billion people in the world do not have somewhere safe to go to the toilet.

As well as a hygiene issue it is a safety issue, for women in particular.

The scheme enables communities to provide their own sanitation with advice and materials.

A donation of £60 enables a toilet to be ‘twinned’ with another abroad. The toilet gets a plaque and picture showing where it has been twinned with.

In 2014 during Okehampton mayor Cllr Paul Vachon’s first year in the post, he and the Rev Stephen Cook set themselves the task of trying to twin all the public access toilets in Okehampton.

The town council was enthusiastic and with the help of folk music enthusiast Derek Moore the project was launched with a ‘Bogflush’ concert a year ago.

As one of the mayor’s nominated charities during his first year, funds and donations were collected from civic events and Cllr Vachon even completed a half-marathon to raise funds.

The idea has been a runaway success and the group has been able to send off enough money to twin 32 toilets.

Organisations who are responsible for a toilet which has public access may soon be asked if they would like it twinned.

The money is already raised but ideas to raise even more money are being welcomed.

The Rev Stephen Cook said: ‘It has been lovely to see the way people respond to this idea.

‘This is the most basic of human needs and it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see what a difference a safe clean place to go can make to peoples’ lives.

‘Paul and I are proud of the way the people of Okehampton have risen to the challenge.

‘I don’t think we will be arranging cultural exchange visits though!’

To find out more call into the town council offices during opening hours.

l Pictured above, left to right, are Cllr Jan Goffey, town mayor Cllr Paul Vachon, the Rev Stephen Cook and Cllr Dave Weekes.