Plans are being drawn up to introduce space-age public urinals in Lambeth that disappear underground when they are not being used.

The high-tech toilets would be operational at night in places around the borough to combat late night revellers urinating in the streets. During the day they would disappear underground by remote control, leaving the streets clear and uncluttered.

As they descend into the ground, the "pop-up" urinals wash themselves.

The council is currently liaising with business groups, police, transport operators, and residents for their views on where the loos should go, and is seeking business partners to contribute financially to the plans.

The council is proposing to earmark funding which can be coupled with private funding to increase the number of urinals, and hopes to install a minimum of five or six new units next year.

Councillor Lib Peck, Cabinet member for environment, said urinating in the street at night is antisocial and a constant source of complaint from residents and businesses.

"We are committed to improving public toilet access in Lambeth and the proposals for urinals are a key part of that," she added.

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A spokesman from Reading Borough Council: "We looked into a number of options and concluded that the UriLift solution was by far the best. Since their installation in two locations here, we have had far fewer problems, local retailers and the police are happy and the surrounding streets are much cleaner. The UriLift is easy to clean, extremely robust and resistant to vandalism. We are actively considering installing them in other locations in the borough."