THE rising price of gold could see a famed golden toilet slide down the pan.

The lordly loo, which is on display at Hang Fung jewellers in Hong Kong may be melted down if the cost of gold hits £500 an ounce.

The jewellery chain, which features the 24-carat throne in its unique Hall of Gold tourist attraction, says it may melt down the ton of gold within the piece to take advantage of China's booming gold economy.

A spokesman for the chain says with jewellery sales rising by 40 per cent in the last year, it wants to increase its 160 mainland outlets to 1,000.

He said: "GDP is growing rapidly and many people have now bought what they need, so they are shopping for luxuries."

The golden toilet is part of a regal display which includes a golden palace and statues of Chinese goddesses.

In January, Hang Fung smelted one ton of gold from its display and sold it for nearly double the price it originally paid for it.

Source: The Sun (World of Wierd)