School toilets across the North-East are so bad that many children avoid using them for the entire day.

The survey, carried out by Newcastle University, calls for urgent legislation to bring school toilets up to scratch.

Pupils said the dirty condition of the loos and the fear of bullies lurking there meant they would rather cross their legs until they got home - raising health fears for our reluctant schoolchildren.

Researchers fear that the widespread reluctance to use school toilets could increase the risk of health problems such as urinary tract infections, constipation and incontinence.

The survey, carried out among 10 Newcastle primary schools and also in Sweden, In the UK more than half of 207 boys surveyed and one third of 187 girls questioned avoided using the toilets.

In Sweden, about a quarter of boys and girls said they did not use school toilets for similar reasons.

Some children said they feared old door locks failing, while others described being bullied. Both Swedish and UK children said they worried about bullies who threatened to push their heads into the toilet bowl.

Researchers found the majority of toilets in both countries were cleaned daily.

The researchers also discovered inadequate hand washing facilities were also common. In the UK sample, some sinks provided cold water only and several taps were broken. Researchers in both countries also discovered broken toilets.

Philip Turner, Director of Education and Libraries at Newcastle, said: "We suspect that this research was initiated about two years -- a lot has happened in that time.

"There has been an extensive programme of renewal. The DfES (Department for Education and Skills) has put a lot of money into school buildings and many headteachers have used this to refurbish the lavatories.

"Also in Newcastle, more than half a million pounds has been spent on improving the hygiene of the water supply.

"When we took part in this research we understood that it was as part of an initiative to improve hygiene in schools.

"The main feedback we got from this was regarding the need to use soap dispensers instead of bars of soap -- which we are acting upon.

"We are surprised now, after all this time, to see the research presented in this way, which does not take into account the many improvements we have made."