A Chinese takeaway restaurant in Taunton has been given a food hygiene rating of zero, making it the only takeaway in the town with the lowest score.

Many Ho's Takeaway, a takeaway at 10 Severn Drive was given the minimum score after the assessment on October 11, according to the Food Standards Agency's website.

However, a spokesperson from Somerset West and Taunton Council said: “The inspection of the Many Ho’s, giving them a 0 rating was carried out on October 11, 2022.

"Since that time two revisits have been carried out and significant improvement has been made meaning the report dated October 11, is no longer a reflection of what can be found at the business."

The spokesman added: "The business can now apply for a re-rating if they choose, where we would anticipate the rating to increase to Satisfactory (3) or above.”

In the current report, the food hygiene officer listed a number of issues they saw with the restaurant, with the bulk of the problems stemming from poor food safety management and an 'extremely cluttered kitchen'.

The officer said: "There is no food safety management seen. You informed me that probe temps are used to test food however there are no temps here and you removed a new meat probe from the packet.

"The same cutting board, knives are being used for raw meat and ready to eat foods. There is no disinfectant with hot water taking place. You must provide separate equipment for raw and cooked food."

In terms of the cluttered kitchen, the officer said: "The kitchen is so cluttered that effective pest control would not be possible. As discussed, you must clear this kitchen immediately.

"Flies were noted in the kitchen, you must switch on your electric fly killer, and provide the fly chain mail at the back door."

To finish the report, the officer added: "What I have seen today is truly disappointing."