NATIONAL newspapers have been going potty over a new Japanese, paper-free, high-tech bidet-toilet, but Wychavon has been highlighted as having the best loos in this country.

Several articles have been written about the new space-age facility currently being experienced by those spending a penny in the Far East. With its paper-free technology, it has been described as something of a breakthrough.

But the British Toilet Association (BTA), while not overlooking the Japanese effort, has praised Wychavon more and has been referring reporters to the district as being the way forward for British conveniences.

Richard Chiswell, director of the BTA, said: "Wychavon has always been a great provider of toilets and it is worth a visit to that area just for those."

There is no obligation for local councils to spend anything on public loos if they don't want to, but Wychavon considers them to be of such importance that it now spends more than £400,000 on maintaining the facilities. The hard work has paid off, not only with the accolade from the BTA, but also with a five-star awards for the cleanliness of its public loos.

This was presented in the 2005 Loo of the Year Awards, which attracted more than 1,000 entries. Top awards went to attended toilets in Droitwich, Pershore, Eves- ham and Broadway. Sharon Casswell, the client services manager at Wychavon District Council, said: "The BTA has recommended us as the future for British toilets.

"While we do not have any plans to go fully automated, like the toilets highlighted in the national press, we do recognise the importance of these services and are always looking for ways to improve them." As reported last week, the Evesham Hotel in Coopers Lane, Evesham, was named by the Guardian newspaper as the place to go.

Visitors are greeted by a sinister-looking scarecrow and a shower curtain decorated with a Pyscho-type silhouette of a knifeman. Look in the mirror in both the ladies and gents and a voice says: "You look great! Have you lost weight?"