They were championed by the Victorians and have come to the rescue of generations of people who have been caught short while out and about.

But figures released today reveal the days of the public loo appear to be numbered. Twenty-two toilets in the West Midlands have been closed over the past decade and more are set to shut as councils cut funding.

The British Toilet Association predicts that up to 1,000 are likely to close in the UK this year — some parts of the West Midlands have even discarded all their conveniences.

Britain’s first purpose-built public toilet opened in London’s Aldwych in 1852 and every respectable neighbourhood soon had designs on its own public loo.

But now they are increasingly being considered a luxury too far for councils that are looking to clip their budgets.

The biggest cuts to toilets has been in Dudley, where eight out of 23 that were provided 10 years ago have been shut.

Councillor Angus Adams said: “Some have been removed after repeated problems with vandalism.

“But as part of the budget proposals we are currently reviewing public toilet provision in a number of our town centres.”

Cannock Chase Council no longer operates any public toilets.

Ten years ago there were five sites in the district with toilets.

In Walsall over the past 10 years three public conveniences have ceased to be. People who are caught short in Darlaston need to use the Asda supermarket toilets instead.

However, Wolverhampton has added to its public toilets with the opening of the WCityStop toilet in Victoria Street in 2004.

It operates eight others around the city, although many are now actually paid for.

One free convenience that has won praise for its cleanliness is in Bantock Park, but it only operates when the nearby cafe is open.

Loo of the Year Awards director, Richard Chisnell, said: “We have lost 30 to 40 per cent of our public toilets in the past 10 years and we estimate there are only 4,000 left.

“There are far more sexy things in life than a public toilet — but we all need to go.”