WEAR Valley's public conveniences have been honoured at the toilet world's national awards ceremony.

The district's toilets were the only new entry in this year's 20-strong toilet Premier League, which was unveiled at the recent Loo of the Year Awards.

Wear Valley came 18th in the national league table, narrowly beating Hambleton, in North Yorkshire, which dropped from 12th position to 19th this year.

The honour represents a success for Wear Valley District Council, which earlier this year spent £296,000 on upgrading all seven public toilets in the area.

Although toilets in Willington, Wolsingham, Stanhope and Crook were vandalised in the summer, judges gave all seven three, four or five star awards.

After the vandalism, a council spokesperson said: "The best toilet awards are looking a distant dream."

However, after hearing of the success, the spokesperson said: "This is great news for the council and the residents of Wear Valley. The award proves that this has been money well spent."

Councillor David Kingston, chairman of the council's community services committee, said: "Public toilets are very important to Wear Valley. We need the facilities to encourage tourists."