DINERS can see at a glance the best restaurants to visit - thanks to Swindon Council's scores on the doors initiative.

Since April food safety inspectors from Swindon Council have been visiting every kind of food serving establishment, totting up the scores on 402 doors round the town.

More than two thirds of restaurants, canteens and other venues tested scored three or more stars, with two stars being the acceptable pass level.

Out of the 402 places visited, 56 received five stars, including Los Gatos in Wood Street and its neighbour Woods cafe, Curry Cottage on Rodbourne Road, and McDonalds restaurants in Great Western Way, West Swindon District Centre and Greenbridge Retail Park.

A total of 117 gained four stars and 100 got the three.

Janice Bardwell, Swindon Council's safety and food team manager, said: "We believe this shows that Swindon businesses are working hard to provide safe food.

"Many have taken advantage of the grant we received so that they could receive training on the Safe Food Better Business system which provides them with the required food safety system."

At the other end of the scale, 19 premises scored no stars including the Brampton Pie Company and Saffron Spice Restaurant in Peatmoor Village Centre.

Many of the failed premises said incorrectly recording their procedures had caused the zero star score, rather then actual hygiene issues.

The two star score has been handed out 62 times and one star a total of 48 times.

With more than 400 properties checked, the council's environmental health team has had a busy year but is prepared for a continuing campaign in the new year.

Ms Bardwell said: "We have 1,400 food businesses in Swindon. It will take many years to get around all of the businesses, although some premises may never get scored, such as some corner shops selling low risk foods - as it depends on the premises' risk rating given under the Food Standards Agency's code of practice.

"The Scores on the Doors scheme is an ongoing process and businesses that have already been scored will be inspected again and another certificate issued.

"This may mean the score will either go up or down depending what the inspector finds at the time."