BAR STAFF in a Weymouth hostelry have a new award to their name – for the best pub toilets in Dorset.

The William Henry, in Westham Road, was the only pub in Dorset to receive a five-star rating in the 2009 Loo of the Year Awards this year.

The recognition for the lovely lavatories comes after JD Wetherspoon took over the premises.

Stephen Newstead, the manager of the pub in Frederick Place, said he was delighted with the award.

He said: “Staff at the pub work hard to ensure that the toilets are in first-class condition at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

Introduced in 1987, the awards are run independently and promoted by the British Toilet Association.

It aims to encourage the highest possible standards in all types of ‘away from home’ or public toilets.

Inspectors made unannounced visits to more than 1,500 toilets across the UK in order to judge them and all of them are graded from one star to the maximum five-star rating.

The toilets are judged on numerous criteria, including décor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment and overall management.

The Swan, a JD Wetherspoons pub in St Thomas Street, Weymouth was awarded four stars and a number of holiday and caravan parks were awarded five stars.

They included Haven Holidays parks at Weymouth Bay and Seaview in Preston.

Haven’s Littlesea camp also scored top marks.

Bingham Grange Touring Park at Meplash, near Bridport, and Charmouth Camping and Caravanning Site also received top marks.