Staff at the Watford headquarters of national pub chain JD Wetherspoon are flushed with pride after no less than 447 of its outlets won recognition of the Loo of the Year Awards.

The company, based at Maple Court on the Reeds estate near Watford Junction, has been awarded a platinum rating for 365 of its pubs and a gold rating for a further 81 outlets, with one pub gaining a sliver rating.

Pubs are rated from bronze to gold with extremely poor pub toilets not gaining a rating at all.

The platinum rating is given only to outlets which offer "exceptional toilets".

Loo of the Year Awards 2014 managing director, Mike Bone, said: "Wetherspoon’s pub toilets are setting the standard for the hospitality sector.

"Their unique design, cleanliness and range of facilities is a credit to the vision of Wetherspoon’s board and the pub management and staff who keep them in excellent condition."

Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson added: "This is a great accolade for the company.

"Credit goes to our architects for designing such excellent toilets and to our staff for maintaining them in first-class condition at all times."