OUR Armed Forces are supposed to march on their stomachs – and the Royal Marines at Norton Manor Camp are getting the best possible preparation.

The mess complex at the Norton Fitzwarren base of 40 Commando has won the highest five star award in the latest round of inspections at food and drinks outlets in the Taunton and Wellington area.

Establishments in the area are continuing to improve their hygiene standards, with 46 of the 73 inspected gaining four or five stars.

At the other end of the scale, just one was scored zero stars and one had one star.

Environmental health officers give ratings from zero for poor hygiene standards to five, which represents excellent levels of hygiene.

The system aims to allow customers to see how compliant their school, hospital, favourite sandwich bar or special occasion restaurant is.

Cllr Mel Mullins, Taunton Deane Council’s executive member for environmental services, said: “It is good to see that standards are continuing to improve in Taunton Deane, especially at a time when businesses are facing difficulties posed by the economic downturn - their efforts do not go unnoticed.”

5***** (excellent hygiene, highly confident in management) Initial Catering, UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton; Vickerys, Priorswood Place, Taunton; Thorne’s Butchers, Wiveliscombe; Ministry of Cake, Bindon Road, Taunton; TDG, Frobisher Way, Taunton; Meryan House Hotel, Bishop’s Hull; French Connection, Station Road, Taunton; Mess Complex, Norton Manor Camp; Netherclay House, Bishop’s Hull; Wellington Kebab, Cornhill, Wellington; Golden Ocean, Wiveliscombe; Cheddon Fitzpaine Primary School; Coffee & Cream/The Sand Witch, Crown Walk, Taunton; Pro-Serv, Crown Industrial Estate, Taunton; Taunton Bowling Club, Vivary Park, Taunton; WRVS, Bishop’s Hull; WPA, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton; The Sandwich Stop, Wellington; Tournedos No 1, Bridge Street, Taunton; Cotford St Luke Primary School; Perl Oriental Foods, Station Road, Taunton; The Lotus Flower, Station Road, Taunton; Flour Wise, Summerfield Avenue, Wellington; La Patisserie, Fore Street, Wellington; Skymango, Portland Street, Taunton; Food for Thought, Fore Street, Wellington.

4**** (very good) Quantock Room, Somerset College, Taunton; Pyrland Farm Shop, Cheddon Road, Taunton; Co-op, Priorswood Place, Taunton; TAH, South Road, Taunton; Rockwell Green Primary School; Williams and Smy, East Reach, Taunton; Debenhams, North Street, Taunton; Victoria Arms, Wellington; Cleve Hotel, Wellington; The Albemarle Centre, Taunton; Pumpkin Café Shop, Taunton Station; St John’s Primary School, Wellington; Kingston St Mary Primary School; Tower Farms, Lydeard St Lawrence; The Perfect 5th, High Street, Taunton; Taunton Deane Bowling Club, Blackbrook Way, Taunton; The World’s End, Bradford-on-Tone; Karens Caff, Staplegrove Road, Taunton; Sue’s Kitchen, RBL, Mary Street, Taunton; Wiveliscombe Children’s Centre; The Fruit Juice Company, Lyngford Lane, Cheddon Fitzpaine.

3*** (good) Heathercroft Guesthouse, Wellington Road, Taunton; M.A. Collard, South Road, Taunton; Weavers Arms, Rockwell Green; The Upper Crust, Pitts Close, Taunton; Lloyds Bar, East Street, Taunton; Wey House Care Centre, Norton Fitzwarren; St Augustine of Centerbury School, Taunton; Upper Crust Bakery, Severn Drive, Taunton; Que Pasa, High Street, Taunton; West Monkton Primary School After School Club; Svetlanas, Upper High Street, Taunton; Flying Aubergine, Riverside Place, Taunton; Papa John’s, East Reach, Taunton; the Food 4U Company, Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Taunton; Chica’s Coffee, South Street, Wellington; Pink Garlic, Hamilton Road, Taunton.

2** (satisfactory) Merry Harriers, West Buckland; Court Fields Community School, Wellington; The Merry Monk, Monkton Heathfield; Rileys, Kingston Road, Taunton; The Cross Keys, Norton Fitzwarren; Quadrant Catering, Royal Mail Sorting Office, Chip Lane, Taunton; Covenant Care, Linden Hill, Wellington.

1* (adequate hygiene, some non-compliance with hygiene legislation, more effort required to prevent fall in standards) High Orchard, Maundown, Wiveliscombe.

0 (poor hygiene conditions found, some major non-compliance with food legislation, follow-up action likely) Trendys, North Street, Taunton.