A PUBLIC convenience crusader is flushed with success after council bosses agreed to change their toilet charges.

But her victory for women has come at a price for men.

Madeleine Hicks, 39, of Meltham, took Kirklees Council equality bosses to task over the practice of charging women, but not men, to use the toilets at Queensgate Market.

She said the 10p charge for the fairer sex was a "grossly unfair inequality" and demanded changes from the bureaucrats.

After Madeleine's views appeared in the Examiner in January a member of the council's diversity team contacted her and said an urgent review of prices would take place.

Now, after the review, Madeleine has been contacted by markets boss Bill Wigham, who agreed it was `"an inequality to charge women and not men" .

He has now decreed that both sexes should pay the toilet tax.

Mr Wigham added: "Currently, the cost of daily servicing and maintaining the facilities outstrips the income we receive.

"To ensure we are able to continue the servicing level, maintenance and refurbishment we have decided to apply the same small charge to the men's WC facilities."

Mum-of-two Madeleine said she was pleased the charges were now equal.

But she added: "I would have preferred it to have gone the other way and no-one being forced to pay.

"I'm finished on this issue, but I'll campaign again if something else catches my eye."

A Kirklees spokesman said a review was under way into the best way to bring in the charging system.

ueensgate Market, Huddersfield outdoor market and Dewsbury market will be among sites affected later this year when the new tariffs start.