Ballymena has come out tops for bottoms in the first ever Northern Ireland Loo of the Year Awards.

The County Antrim town won eight of the 18 categories in the inaugural awards ceremony at Belfast City Hall on Monday.

A total of 30 toilet facilities across Northern Ireland were awarded with plaques, ranging from public buildings, tourist attractions, Parklands and beaches to pub and clubs.

Ballymena won the Standards Of Excellence Shield, proving it to be one of the cleanest towns to spend a penny.

Richard Chisnell: Standards were high

The town's Showgrounds football ground won in the sports category while its People's Park took the honours for the most hygienic loo in the leisure section.

Belfast also featured highly, taking the top award in each of the three categories the city council entered, with the City Hall winning the heritage award.

The Loo Of The Year Awards, organized by the British Toilet Association, have been running in England, Scotland and Wales for the past 15 years, but it is the first time it has been held in Northern Ireland.

High standards

Richard Chisnell of the toilet association said the standards in the province were very good.

"As a council, Ballymena does very well in all its establishments and has to be commended.

"They go forward with Belfast City Hall to the national final, along with the two winners from Wales, Scotland and England," he said.

"The prize is a brass loo seat on a wonderful mahogany plinth and it is well sought after."

Each year, companies and local authorities, members of the public and individuals responsible for providing or managing toilet facilities nominate those they feel are worthy of recognition.

Each nominated facility is then visited and judged, anonymously, with the judges looking not only for toilets which look good but also for evidence that they are well looked after.

The national finals take place on 29 November.