Drivers caught short at the Welcome Break services at Charnock Richard can be safe in the knowledge that they are spending a penny in a lap of luxury.

That is because the toilets on the northbound and southbound services were both awarded a four-star rating by inspectors for the Loo of the Year Awards.

The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of ‘away from home’ toilet provision across the UK.

Authorised inspectors made unannounced visits to more than 1,500 toilets at sites across the UK in order to judge them.

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

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

Pete Watts, site director at Welcome Break Charnock Richard, said: “I am delighted with the awards. The staff here work hard to ensure that the toilets are in first-class condition at all times and it is great that their efforts have been rewarded.

“Our toilets are open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so it really does take a team effort to maintain such high standards at all times.”

Mike Bone, director of the Loo of the Year Awards, said: “The toilets at Charnock Richard are excellent and the site richly deserves its four-star ratings.”