Toilet modelled on Louvre museum is work of art

David Reeves,BBC News
David Reeves/BBC Sam Delaney at The Great Escape David Reeves/BBC
Sam Delaney in the Louvre at The Great Escape in Grimsby

A toilet at a community centre has been turned into a recreation of a museum in Paris.

Like its namesake, the Louvre features replica works of art as seen in the real gallery in France.

Visitors to The Great Escape at the Port of Grimsby can sit and enjoy the space created by users of the Creative Start project.

Reproductions of the Mona Lisa, The Raft of the Medusa and a map of the The Louvre can be found in the North East Lincolnshire loo.

'Best kept secret'

Sam Delaney, director of Creative Start in Grimsby, said: "It's the whole point of the building. We give a lot of creative freedom to people and when you're allowed to do that, good things can happen."

The Louvre is one of many themed rooms given over to local creatives in the former Consolidated Fisheries building, with new items added on a regular basis.

"I've had to do a bit of research. That's the bit I enjoy doing," Mr Delaney said about shopping for replicas and prints that can be found at the real Louvre in Paris.

David Reeves/BBC Inside 'the Louvre' at The Great EscapeDavid Reeves/BBC
Visitors can sit and enjoy the artwork

Other themed rooms at The Great Escape, which helps people in recovery from addiction, include a holding cell and a Viking kitchen.

Mr Delaney said that when visitors use the Louvre for the first, they "can't believe it, they don't expect it".

He added: "We call it Grimsby's best kept secret."

David Reeves/BBC The Great Escape in GrimsbyDavid Reeves/BBC
The Great Escape, Grimsby
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