Toilet exhibit removed from museum after visitors mistake it for real thing

Bosses at the Beamish museum are moving one of South Tyneside's most famous landmarks because it was getting them in a 'wee' spot of bother.

The iconic Westoe Netty, made famous by South Shields artist Bob Olley's 1972 painting, was initially set up as an exhibition piece – but some visitors are spending more than just their time in it.

Now it is being relocated within the museum so it can be plumbed in and used as a working toilet once more.



A spokeswoman for the museum in Stanley, County Durham, said: "It is being moved to a different part of Beamish.

"The problem is that it was originally put up as an exhibit, however some of our guests, and I suppose they must be males, are using it as a real toilet.

"Where it stands now it can't be plumbed in, so we're having to move it to somewhere it can be."