The Conservatives have won a key vote in the Lords on legislation overhauling Britain's laws on sexual offences.

As the Sexual Offences Bill continued its progress through the Lords, the party had urged peers to back an amendment aimed at ensuring sex in a public lavatory does not become legal.

In a vote on Monday evening, members of the upper house gave their support to the Conservative plan.

The vote was won by 133 votes to 95 with 14 Labour rebels defying the whip to join the Tories in the Opposition lobby.