London's £300,000 superloo

They may be the oldest public conveniences in the world, but after a £300,000 makeover the lavatories under Oxford Circus are now the most state-of-the art in Britain.

The facilities look fairly standard - but don't be deceived.

They are, in fact, fitted with features designed to prevent them being used for drug taking, vandalism or illicit sex.

The refurbishment includes CCTV cameras connected to Westminster City Hall, unbreakable light fixtures first designed for prisons and shallow, saloon-style cubicle doors.

Anyone caught defacing or vandalising the lavatories will be liable to a ?50

on- the- spot fine. The conveniences first opened in 1885, but are reopening today after a red-carpet VIP ceremony featuring champagne and a string quartet.

A Westminster council spokesman said: "This scheme is all about crime prevention.

" Compared with the amount of money spent dealing with the crimes that are committed in public toilets, £300,000 is nothing." The facilities are the latest in a series of free public lavatories to open in central London as part of Westminster's bid to improve facilities.

Over the past three years, the council has provided 16 new urinals and claims there are now more free, municipal lavatories in the West End than at any other time in the past 20 years.