Campaigning mothers with children or other family members who have special needs are thrilled that a major Swindon institution will soon have specially adapted toilets.

The MacArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Rodbourne has had its bid to change the one of the lavatories at the shopping centre to a fully fitted out Changing Places toilet approved by planners at Swindon Borough Council.

And Mums on a Mission, a group of mothers who campaign for better facilities for children with disabilities, are delighted.

A spokeswoman said: "We're so thrilled that the plans for a Changing Places toilet at the Outlet have been approved and this long-awaited scheme has moved another step closer.

"These fully accessible toilets are essential to so many people with disabilities, who cannot use a standard disabled toilet and require either a hoist or an adult-sized changing bench, or in many cases both.

“We've worked hard to raise awareness and to educate decision makers as to why the Outlet needs a Changing Places toilet.  This new facility will mean that we can come for a proper day of shopping and can stop for lunch or dinner - just like any other family. This is something we haven't done with our children since they were very little, and we can't wait for our lovely new toilet to open."

At the moment the Swindon Designer Outlet is the only one of seven MacArthur Glen outlets without a specialist Changing Places toilet.

The company told planners in its application to revamp a little-used staff lavatory into the facility: “Changing Places facilities are designed for use by those who need personal assistance to use the toilet or change continence pads. This may include people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, spinal injuries and people living with stroke.

A Changing Places toilet is larger than a standard accessible toilet and contains additional equipment, including a height-adjustable changing bench, a peninsular toilet and a ceiling hoist.

That means if larger young people or adults need their clothes or continence pads changing, they can lie down and be hoisted up to a suitable height.

Without a Changing Places facility, parents have sometimes had to change their children lying down on the floors of ordinary toilets in shopping centres or other public places which is both unsanitary and very undignified.

As the conversion does not affect the historic fabric of the former GWR works building, the council was happy to approve the plan.