LONG-SERVING employee Peter Haddock has mopped up the top prize in the national ‘Loo of The Year’ awards for the second time running.

And as he prepares to hang up his cleaning materials for retirement from The Mall Blackburn, he said: “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.”

His repeat gold medal as ‘Attendant of the Year’ helped the shopping centre retain its platinum grading for its toilet facilities.

Delighted Mr Haddock, who will be 65 on August 30, the day he retires, said: "Winning this award two years in a row is a good way to end my career.

“I’ve been cleaning the toilets here for six years and it’s an important job. Clean loos mean people come into The Mall, enjoy their experience and come back again.

“I enjoy the job and get nice comments from customers to make it worthwhile. I take as much pride in it today as I did on my first day on duty.

“I am looking forward to hanging up my mop later this year and having a relaxing retirement, but I will miss working with everyone."

The awards, which have identified the best loos in Britain since 1987, recognised Mr Haddock for the second time after an unannounced visit from judges last year.

Each toilet is assessed against 100 criteria including signage and décor, fixtures and fittings, and cleanliness and management.

Mall general manager Loraine Jones said: “We were delighted Peter has once again been recognised for his continued hard work.”

Blackburn-born Mr Haddock is a single man who lives in Shear Brow with his brother.

Before joining The Mall workforce in 2005, he was a shop assistant in the town and then a cleaner at a factory in Accrington.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “Good for him for doing a job most people wouldn’t like properly.”