ATTENDANTS who look after public toilets in Devizes are celebrating after winning gold in the Loo of the Year awards.

Monica Taib and Brian Adcock make sure the superloo in the West Central car park are always in tip top condition and tourism leaders believe they are doing their bit to boost the town's popularity with visitors.

Tony Aldridge from Devizes Area Tourism Partnership said: "The high quality toilets are very important for visitors to Devizes, and they also have maps and information to aid exploration.

"They are situated next to the coach set down bays, near The Shambles covered market, The Ginnel shopping arcade, the Market Place and rest of the attractions.

"Coach operators are very impressed by the size and standards and friendly reception at the toilets, and therefore a key element of Devizes being coach friendly."

But the toilets have not always been so popular with people in the town. Back in 2007 Wiltshire Council closed a number of public toilets in the town and replaced them with the new block in the West Central car park which took over a number of parking spaces.

Mr Aldridge believes though that the amount of tourists using the loos also helps to ensure a steady income and this helps to pay for the attendants.

He said: "We have had many compliments at the consistently high standards. The people from the coach companies who came to assess the town said they would happily eat off the floor in the toilet, it was so clean and well looked after.

"Now we have the coach parking spaces in New Park Street, the toilets are central to whole tourist experience of Devizes."

Mayor Sarah Bridewell also praised the work of the attendants and the cleanliness of the loos. Since they were opened in 2007 they have received a number of awards and a wall inside the loos is covered in certificates. The Loo Of The Year awards celebrate the best toilets in restaurants, pubs and public places.

Mr Adcock, who lives in Devizes, said: “It’s great that our work has been recognised in this way and it’s so good for the town as well.”

Mrs Taib, a grandmother of two from Bishops Cannings, said: “It’s all part of our job to make sure the toilets are clean and pleasant at all times."