TWO New Forest toilet blocks are among the best in the United Kingdom.

In a competition sponsored by washroom hygiene specialists Cannon Hygiene in conjunction with the English, Welsh and Scottish Tourist Boards, the toilet block opened at Lymington Quay was one of only 28 to be given a five-star rating.

Summer attendants Ron Bran and Bob Miller were commended for their good work at the loos, which are busy through the summer with tourists and the yachting fraternity as well as local residents and shoppers.

Not far behind, with one of the 79 four-star awards, was the toilet opened two years ago in the Beaulieu car park, which looked so impressive that when she carried out the opening ceremony, the then council chairman Pat Wyeth was handed a golden loo brush.

The competition attracted entries from 476 local authorities and the loos were judges on such things as the signage, accessibility, dcor, equipment, fixtures, cleanliness, overall management and customer care.

New Forest District Council's environment portfolio holder Councillor Mel Kendal said: "The awards indicate that the council gives good value for money in both the design and construction of these particular public conveniences."