Members of the Scarborough, Malton, and District Soroptimist club, along with the Malton and Norton Fairtrade group, have presented Toilet Twinned Town certificates to the staff of Malton Library and Norton Hive.

The certificates will be proudly displayed in their respective libraries.

Members of the  Soroptimists and Fairtrade group have spent several years worked hand in hand, shedding light "on the need for safe and hygienic toilets in many developing countries".

Helen Hyams of Soroptimist International  of Scarborough,  Malton and District says that without safe toilets, women in particular are at risk of "snake bites and rape whilst openly defecating in fields".
She said: "Children often miss days off school due to bouts of gastroenteritis caused by poor hygiene and lack of running water to wash their hands after defecating in fields."

In their mission to spread awareness about the importance of safe toilets, the organisation has held talks for groups about toilet twinning, and distributed leaflets.

Framed certificates of twinned toilets started appearing in various establishments such as cafes, public houses, council offices, churches, community centres, scout huts, and schools.
In May of this year, the organisation achieved its goal.
Helen Hyams said: "The minimum or more twinned toilets in each category was attained so we are now Toilet Twinned Towns."