Campaigners have vowed to continue to fight to save Oxford’s public toilets — despite a radical closure programme being finally ratified last night.

At a crunch meeting of all Oxford city councillors at the Town Hall the opposition Liberal Democrat group tabled a motion urging the ruling Labour administration to overturn the plans, but it was voted down on Lord Mayor Mary Clarkson’s casting vote.

The cash-strapped council will now close seven public toilets across the city to save £50,000 a year, including facilities in Knight's Road, Blackbird Leys.

Toilets in Castle Street, Littlemore, Woodstock Road and South Parade in North Oxford, Barns Road in Cowley and Headington Hill Park will also being sold off or demolished.

Steve Goddard, the Lib Dem’s prospective Parliamentary spokesman for Oxford East, has now set up a petition to fight the closures.

He said: "These closures are terrible for Oxford. The elderly, young families and tourists will be among the worst hit. We need clean loos that are open longer, not the closure of vital facilities. I urge Labour to think again."