Two Swindon takeaways have been hit with zero-out-of-five food hygiene ratings, after council inspectors found them lacking in all three assessed hygiene categories.

Little Panda Chinese Takeaway, in Cricklade Road, and Zeera, an Indian takeaway in Park North’s Whitbourne Avenue, were issued with the lowest hygiene rating following unannounced inspections late last year.

Zeera were told that they required improvement in food safety management, cleanliness of their facilities, and food handling.

The co-owner of Zeera, Mohammed Rafike Meah, said: “They said the kitchen was not clean enough. They came and they took evidence. I can’t deny it, I’m guilty for that.

“They also asked me to put in a new sink – we only had one sink.

“It is hygienic now, if you see in my kitchen.”

Mr Meah also said that he had since gained his own food hygiene certificate, adding to those of his son and grandson, who also work in the business. He said he had requested a re-inspection, and was expecting it to take place as soon as the council had availability.

Little Panda were found to require major improvement in their hygienic food handling and food safety management, as well as improvement in cleanliness within the building. It follows another previous zero rating for food hygiene in 2016.

Staff at Little Panda refused to comment.

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said: “We take food hygiene very seriously because of the health problems that can be caused by food poisoning.

“The ratings system aims to provide important information for customers but it also serves as a means of improving food hygiene standards. We carry out unannounced inspections and, if problems are uncovered, as in the case of these two zero-rated premises, we work with the businesses to help them reach the required standards.

“We will invariably provide a list of improvements and will follow this up with another inspection. If things do not get better, Environmental Health will issue an enforcement notice and offer to work with the management. If things still do not improve we have no choice but to prosecute.”