Five businesses in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire have been slammed by food hygiene inspectors.

The establishments, which include takeaways, bakeries and restaurants, have been given a rating of one out of five.

This means that ‘major improvement is necessary’. The lowest rating is zero.

The ratings, published on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website, cover the handling of food, how food is stored and prepared and the cleanliness of facilities.

Among the local businesses to be given the one rating is The Pizza Planet in Wotton-under-Edge, whose owner will appear in court next month charged with four counts of breaching food safety and hygiene regulations between September and November last year.

Ali Izadi is also charged with selling alcohol without a licence on October 26, 2018.

This includes failing to ensure premises were kept clean and failing to ensure that an adequate number of washbasins were available.

Some of the businesses may have been inspected again since the one rating was awarded but the new report has not yet been published on the FSA website.

The businesses listed as having a one rating on the FSA website, in alphabetical order, with the date of the inspection:

Stroud District:

1.Greens, Market Place, Berkeley – July 20, 2018

2.The Pizza Planet, Market Street, Wotton-Under-Edge – March 20, 2019

3.Walkers the Bakers, Long Street, Wotton-Under-Edge – August 8, 2018

South Gloucestershire:

1.Royal Raj, High Street, Winterbourne – March 4, 2019

2. Siam Thai Restaurant, Horse Street, Chipping Sodbury – January 22, 2019

A Stroud District Council spokesman said it was important for customers to be aware of food hygiene ratings so they can make an informed decision about where to eat.

The spokesman said: “It is estimated that around five million people suffer from food poisoning in England and Wales each year, so it is important that regular checks are made.

“Officers are able to enter and inspect food premises at all reasonable hours. They do not have to make an appointment and will usually visit a premises without giving any notice.

“Some food premises are inspected at least every six months, while others are only inspected once every five years. How often the premises are inspected will depend on the level of risk associated with the business.”

The spokesman added: “Where practices or conditions are not satisfactory, every attempt will be made to resolve the situation by informal means, but where poor conditions persist, or where there is a risk to public health it may be necessary to resort to formal action.

“This could involve either the service of a legal notice, prosecution, or in extreme cases closure of the business. After the inspection, the officer will write to the proprietor of the business, providing details of areas requiring attention.

“The letter will clearly state the statutory requirements that are not being complied with and what has to be done to comply with the law. Reasonable time will be given to comply, except where there is an immediate risk to public health, when other enforcement action may be taken.”

See ratings.food.gov.uk for the food hygiene inspection results.