Ryedale's revolutionary wind-powered public loo has suffered a blow.

Thieves have stolen the wind turbine which provided heating, warm water and lighting for the toilet at Staxton Brow picnic site on the edge of the Wolds east of Malton. It was not served by mains power.

Police were alerted yesterday morning after someone noticed that the £1,800 turbine - mounted on a 21ft tall pole - was missing.

The Staxton Brow loos were reopened in a blaze of publicity on April 20 after refurbishment work costing £40,000 had been completed at the 1970s block.

Ryedale District Council's chairman Coun Gary Hobbs, who performed the opening ceremony, said: "I'm appalled at the news of the theft.

"It seems an organised effort was made to steal the wind charger and I very much hope that the culprits are found."

The council opted for wind power for the revamped facilities as it offered the benefit of no ongoing fuel bills and it would have cost about £12,000 to run mains electricity to the isolated site.

The wind charger on top of the pole charged three batteries which, in turn, powered the heating and lighting systems.

Stephen Oldridge, the council's deputy director of operations, said: "Sometime during Wednesday night, the thieves sawed through the brackets that secured the pole to the building and then levered the pole down, disrupting the flagstones at the base of the pole."

Mr Oldridge said: "We have been in touch with our supplier. We intend to replace the wind charger as soon as we can - obviously in a manner which will render if more difficult to steal.

"I think it's a shame that we should have to go to these lengths."

He said: "We're not quite sure when we will be able to replace it. The toilets are still open and operating, but we haven't got electrical power at the moment."

Mr Oldridge added: "I didn't think anybody would stoop so low as to steal our windmill."

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