Brussels  - There were red faces at Belgium's state railways company SNCB after the Minister for Public Companies found no toilet paper or towels when she had to pay a visit to the ladies' rest room while attending ceremonies to open a new rail line, reports said.

De Morgen reported Wednesday that Inge Vervotte had to pay a visit to the station restroom just before the official ceremonies, only to find neither toilet paper nor towels available.

"Vandals stole the toilet paper rolls during the night," was SNCB's explanation.

But the station master gave a more forthright account, De Morgen reported: "I have neither the personnel nor the money for the upkeep of the toilets."

Vervotte, 30, took the matter in stride. "Above all I am happy there is a new link between Herentals and Brussels," she said. (dpa)