VISITORS swarmed into York for the Easter weekend. This was the start of the first tourist season after foot and mouth disease and September 11, and so it was vital that the city made a good impression.

Our guests will have left with some unforgettable images of York: the majesty of the Minster, the fun of the museums, historic Shambles.

Unhappily, they will also have been left with an indelible memory of the city's public toilets, should they have had the misfortune to use them.

How could they forget the stench; the blocked toilets; the absence of toilet roll and soap?

And, in the worst case, will they ever erase the memory of filthy needles and other drugs paraphernalia that greeted them as they went to use the Museum Gardens toilets?

This is a disgrace. York residents, who have to use the toilets all year round, and pay council tax to maintain them, deserve much better.

And our shame is doubled when we subject guests to such a degrading experience. What sort of tourist city is it that cannot provide safe, clean basic facilities?

To give the City of York Council credit, it has admitted that some of the toilets were left in a shocking state this weekend. We are told this was due to a staff shortage at the cleaning contractor. It is not good enough to blame someone else, however: the council is ultimately responsible.

In our investigation, few of the toilets came up smelling of roses, and some smelled considerably worse. But the worst experience by far was in Museum Gardens.

We should be ashamed that this city has allowed its central park to become a haunt for those hooked on drink and drugs. The police and its Safer York partners must consider what more they can do to clean it up.

And the city council should take steps to ensure that all our toilets are immaculate - so they become memorable for all the right reasons.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, April 03, 2002