NINE businesses in Swindon have been given a score of zero out five in food hygiene inspections sice the start if the year.

The score means urgent improvements are needed and is the lowest rating which can be given after an inspection.

Dozens more have been given a score of one, which means the establishment needs major work to improve.

Swindon Council environmental health officers carry out the inspections on a random basis, with the scores published on the Food Standards Agency website.

The sites given zero in inspections carried out since January 1 were; Abbys Food Stores, Buteco, Covingham Fish Shop, Ellendune Chinese Takeaway, Pizza 2 Night, Seven Star, The Glue Pot, The Greyhound and Yeahya – Flavours of Asia.

When the scores are given out the proprietors are given a set of tasks that they must complete within a certain time frame to improve conditions at the establishments.

The inspections are carried out at random and are focused on basic hygiene.

Any place which serves food or drink which is consumed by customers or workers can be inspected.

The council policy tries not to close outlets down and to work with the owners to improve standards.

However, if a site persistently offends and fails to come up to standard, then officers will seek to prosecute.

In July, the landlady of The Queens Tap Pub was ordered to pay more than £3,500 after admitting breaking food hygiene laws at the premises on seven occasions.

The owner of the Shanghai Fish Bar was ordered to pay £10,000 after repeated visits by environmental health officers found e-coli.

Louise Doughty, food and health and safety team leader for the council, said: “We don’t go into premises looking to shut them down but food poisoning is a very serious issue which we do not take lightly.

“It can make people extremely ill or even kill them.

“We are given criteria by the Food Standards Agency which we must work to.

“If a problem is identified then we will try and work with them to resolve things before further action is taken.

“Normally the breaches are down to people not understanding the rules which is why we work with them.

“If changes are not forthcoming then an enforcement notice may be issued. If improvements are not made, which they usually are, then we go down the courts.

“It must be said that there many establishments which get good scores and we have no problems with.”

Inspections since June 2014

Key: Rating out of 5; name; address; month of inspection.

5 - Britz, Unit 10 & 11, West Swindon Centre, Whitehill Way, Swindon, SN5 7DL, August 2014

5 - Birchwood Price Tools (@ Keyline Builders Merchants) Thorne House County Park, Marshgate, Swindon, SN1 2NS, September 2014

5 - Brookhouse Farm, Brook House, Middleleaze Drive, Middleleaze, Swindon, SN5 5TZ, July 2014

5 - Busy Bees Day Nurseries (Trading) Ltd Neighbourhood Centre, Highdown Way, St Andrews Ridge, Swindon, SN25 4FD, August 2014

5 - Butterflies Children's Centre, Abbeymeads Community Primary School, Hugo Drive, Abbey Meads, Swindon, SN25 4GY, September 2014

5 - Ed's Easy Diner, 90 Great Western Outlet Village, 1 - 111 Kemble Drive, Rodbourne, Swindon, SN2 2DZ, August 2014

5 - Haydon Meadow Pre-School, Haydon Wick Community Leisure Centre, Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick, Swindon SN25 1QQ, September 2014

5 - Little Scholars Pre-School, Abbeymeads Community Primary School, Hugo Drive, Abbey Meads, Swindon, SN25 4GY, September 2014

5 - Lydiard House Conference Centre, Lydiard Park Management Centre, Lydiard Park Access Road, Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon, SN5 3PA , August 2014

5 - Morrison Plc, Unit 1, Dorcan Way Centre, Dorcan Way Swindon, SN3 3TZ, July 2014

5 - Senior Citizens Tuesday Club, Park South Community Centre, Cranmore Avenue, Park South, Swindon, SN3 2EE, June 2014

5 - Trenchers (Wiltshire), The Estate Office, Kembrey Business Park,Upper Stratton, Swindon, SN2 8YZ, August 2014

5 - Wagamama, Great Western Outlet Village 1 - 111 Kemble Drive, Rodbourne, Swindon, SN2 2DY, September 2014

4 - Coleview Luncheon Club, Coleview Community Centre, Towcester Road, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, SN3 4AS, June 2014

4 - May's Thai Minimart, Unit 18 Market Hall, Market Street, Swindon, SN1 1RZ, July 2014

4 - St Mary's Playgroup, St Marys Primary School, Bessemer Road East, Rodbourne Cheney, Swindon, SN2 1PE, July 2014

4 - The Big Adventure Club, Catherine Waite Primary School, Elstree Way, Abbey Meads, Swindon, SN25 4TA, July 2014

4 - The Range Coffee House, Unit 1 Fleming Way Units, Fleming Way, Swindon, July 2014

4 - Ciao Eatalia, 26 Swindon Street, Highworth, Swindon, SN6 7AH, October 2014

3 - In House Catering (c/o Swindon Borough Council), Hut 8 Civic Campus Euclid Street, Swindon, August 28

3 - Liden Takeaway Ltd, Unit 3 Liden Centre, Liden, Swindon SN3 6HP, August 2014

3 - Mini Steamers Childcare, Morris Street Community Centre, 91A Morris Street Rodbourne, Swindon SN2 2HS, June 2014

3 - The Grill & Fish Bar, Unit 3 Worsley Road, Freshbrook, Swindon SN5 8LY, June 2014

1 - Barbury Shooting School, Barbury Castle Country Park, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton Swindon, June 2014

1 - Number 7 Marker, Spudlicious, Unit 3 - 5 Market Hall Market Street, Swindon SN1 1RZ, July 2014