A WORCESTER pub has won acclaim for the quality and standards of its toilets in the Loo of the Year Awards.

The Crown in Crown Passage known as Lloyds Bar has been awarded a gold star rating by inspectors.

The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of toilet provision across the UK.

Authorised inspectors make unannounced visits to hundreds of toilets at sites across the UK. All of the toilets are graded from bronze to gold with unacceptable toilets not graded at all.

The toilets are judged against numerous criteria, including décor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment and overall management.

The Crown, a Wetherspoon pub, is managed by Claire Heitzman. She said: “I am delighted with the award.

“Staff at the pub work hard to ensure the toilets are in first-class condition at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

The Loo of the Year Awards managing director Mike Bone said: “The toilets at the Crown have been designed and fitted out to a very high standard and are both clean and well maintained. The pub richly deserves its gold award.”

Meanwhile one of Malvern Hills District Council’s public toilets has received top marks for the second year running in the awards.

"The public conveniences in Worcester Road, Malvern Link – some of the newest in the district – received a five-star rating once again this year.

The council maintained standards across all of its eight loos in Malvern, Upton and Tenbury. Each one received exactly the same score as last year.

Coun Bronwen Behan, portfolio holder for environmental services, said: “We were thrilled our toilets were given such high ratings last year, but in some ways this year is an even greater achievement when we are under so much financial pressure."