NEWLY built toilets in Chesham's Lowndes Park were given their inaugural flush by the town's mayor last week.

Cllr Chris Spruytenburg was pleased to cut the official ribbon, and toilet roll, at the opening ceremony of the male and female toilet block.

He said: "There can be few more auspicious occasions for a mayor to officiate at than the opening of state-of-the-art public toilets.

"Toilets across the country are closing, but we at Chesham Town Council are bucking the trend it seems."

He joked: "There is a long list of very auspicious occasions that mayors are invited to attend, but this has to be the pinnacle of my mayoral year, and I am truly flushed, as you can tell."

The £120,000 building project was started by the town council after Chiltern District Council decided not to clean up the area when it was repeatedly vandalised in 2002.

The town council took over responsibility for the area and, after getting sufficient funding, began renovation work in June this year.

The council thought it was important for the public conveniences to be in place for use by the people of the town.

Cllr Spruytenburg said at the opening: "So it is a very proud man indeed who stands before you today desperate to cut the ribbon and toilet roll.

"I'm sure you'll agree that this smart building is worthy of you and that in the weeks and years to come you will remember this day when you pop inside for a moment's quiet reflection'."

The current toilets replace a run down, unisex block which was dimly lit and in a bad state of repair.

Drug taking and undesirable sexual activity were both alleged to have taken place at the site prior to its closure.