A PUBLIC toilet in the heart of York that was labelled a "stench-ridden dumping ground" following an Evening Press survey of the city's conveniences, has been given a makeover.

The Museum Garden toilets have been refurbished as part of a £45,000 scheme by City of York Council, to improve a number of the city's facilities.

The makeover included clearing shrubbery, placing gravel over soil on the surrounding areas, cleaning interiors and repainting the doors in time for the tourist season.

Visitors agreed the toilets were a big improvement to the sights that greeted Evening Press reporters when they visited six of the city's toilets last month, to find dirt, graphic sexual graffiti and evidence of drug use.

Joan Rawnsley, 39, brought children on a school trip from Liversedge, West Yorkshire. She said: "A workman outside warned us to be careful as there are needles, but we haven't found any. They're fine - clean and tidy. They smell a bit, but they're clean. I'm confident to let the children use the toilets."

The programme of refurbishment began this week with the closure of the ladies' toilets in Parliament Street. They are expected to reopen on Saturday after internal decoration and refurbishment.

The Parliament Street gents toilets will close on April 28 until May 4.

John Wood, city centre manager, City of York Council, said: "We've been concerned that conditions in some of the toilets haven't been up to the high standards we expect and this work will hopefully bring real and long-lasting benefits."

Updated: 11:16 Friday, April 04, 2003