Four gleaming public toilets in Oxford have been given Loo of the Year Awards.

Last year the city council won two awards for the high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in its loos at Diamond Place, in Summer- town, and Gloucester Green.

This year, Diamond Place and Gloucester Green again received four star awards. Toilets in Bury Knowle Park, Headington, and Oxpens received three star awards.

Oxford's executive member for the environment, Mary Clarkson, said: "Our cleaners do a splendid job keeping public toilets clean and I am delighted that these awards recognise their hard work."

Oxford's public toilets were among 1,000 toilets entered in the annual search for the best loo in the UK.

Based upon the findings of unannounced visits, toilets were awarded stars for cleanliness and overall management. Signage, accessibility, dcor, equip- ment and customer care were also taken into account.

Gradings ranged from one star to the best rating of five.

Last week designers from the London borough of Havering asked to visit Oxford to investigate the success of the Diamond Place and Bury Knowle toilets.

Last January, Cowley ward councillor Stan Taylor claimed Oxford's public toilets had been "grotty and horrible" for years.

A report to the council's environment scrutiny committee revealed that council workers were clearing up more than 500 discarded syringes a month in 2002.