If you ever feel like spending a penny in Berkshire, be secure in the knowledge that you could be sitting on an award-winning lavatory. Five thrones in our Royal county have come out of the water-closet and won a five-star rating in the Loo of the Year Awards 2003. They were among 1,000 individual toilets entered into this annual search for the best loos in the UK, showing that their facilities certainly aren't bog standard. The five Berkshire loos flushed with success are the ones in the Look Out Discovery Centre in Bracknell, the Oracle shopping centre in Reading, McDonalds in Slough, the National Grid in Wokingham and the Moto services on the M4, Reading East. What's more, the Look Out Discovery Centre loos have been winning awards for nine years running. On average 220,000 people use these toilets a year, showing that shoppers sure go potty for them.  | | (L-R) Vincent Paliczka (director leisure services), Cllr Iain McCracken, cleaners Isabella Green and Mervyn Burt at the Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell. |
All winning loos were commended by the judging team for the overall cleanliness and high levels of hygiene. Each toilet now has a plaque proudly displayed on its walls. The Loo of the Year Awards and associated Attendant of the Year Awards for cleaning staff have been identifying the best in Britain since 1987. Over 800 entries received an unannounced visit from an authorised Loo of the Year Awards Inspector and were assessed against a wide range of judging criteria including: signage and décor; fixtures and fittings; overall standards of cleanliness and management. Speaking about the Bracknell bogs, Cllr lain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure at Brackell Forest Borough Council, said: "To win a Cannon Hygiene Loo of the Year Award for the ninth year running is a truly outstanding achievement. "Mervyn and Isabella, The Look Out cleaners, are both valued and important members of The Look Out staff. I'm very proud of them, the centre and of course our loos!" | 
