TOILETS at a Derby pub, a city branch of McDonald's, and three areas of East Midlands Airport are among 10 public conveniences to have achieved the highest rating in the 2009 Loo of the Year Awards.

The Thomas Leaper in Iron Gate and the McDonald's in Osmaston Park Road have been awarded the top five-star grade by inspectors.

Other winners are Conkers, in Swadlincote; the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas; Waterside Court Industrial Park and Manor Croft, both in Burton; and St Augustine's First School in Ashbourne.

The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving toilet standards in the UK.

Jobie Holloway, manager at the Thomas Leaper, said: "I am delighted with the award.

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

Authorised inspectors make unannounced visits to more than 1,500 toilets at sites across the UK.

All of the toilets are graded from one star to the maximum five stars, with unacceptable toilets not graded at all.

The toilets are judged on decor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment and their overall management.

A spokesman for McDonald's said: "We believe that everyone deserves clean, safe and well-appointed toilet facilities.

"We ensure these high standards are across the board, catering for everyone including disabled visitors and parents with small children."

The Loo of the Year awards were first introduced in 1987.

They are run independently and promoted by the British Toilet Association.

There are 60 categories in total, including supermarkets, concert halls, pubs and wine bars, libraries, cinemas and hospitals.

Three toilets at East Midland's Airport – in the main check-in hall, and two in the departure lounges – also achieved five-star ratings.

John Doherty, the airport's head of customer experience, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded five stars.

"To be recognised at a national level is testament to the hard work and efforts of our team and our partners' initial airport services.

"It is a priority for East Midlands Airport to ensure that we meet and exceed the expectations of our customers by getting the basics right."

Mike Bone, managing director of the awards, said: "Entries for the 2009 Loo of the Year awards continue at high levels despite the economic situation.

"Standards are also improving with 58% of the total entries achieving a five-star grading compared to 42% in 2008."