More than 230 written warnings were given to businesses in Barrow and South Lakeland for food hygiene issues over the last year.

Data from the Food Standards Agency revealed inspectors assessed 547 businesses and handed out 96 written warnings in Barrow.

In South Lakeland they visited 1,766 businesses and handed out 145 warnings. For Copeland District Council the figures were 657 and 57 respectively.

The businesses inspected are mostly restaurants, but include any establishment which handles unpacked food including farms, manufacturers and catering companies.

Any breach of food hygiene regulations can lead to a written warning. Breaches include problems with cleanliness, training of staff, record keeping, washing facilities and separation of cooked and raw foods.

As well as the written warnings, in Barrow there were five hygiene improvement notices and two voluntary closures.

High risk scores were given to three businesses. This means they need to be inspected again within six months.

In South Lakeland there were three hygiene improvement notices and high risk scores were given to two businesses.

This high risk score is different from the zero to five score that restaurants and takeaways display in their windows, as it is an indicator of when officials need to assess the business again.

A business which gets a high risk rating is "highly likely" to have breached food hygiene regulations, according to the FSA.

A spokesperson for South Lakeland District Council said:

“Our environmental health officers take their food safety and hygiene-related responsibilities very seriously.

“They write to and visit premises to promote best practice, offer guidance and maintain the district’s excellent record of compliance.

“The public can be reassured that the overwhelming majority of business owners know the law and take their responsibilities very seriously.

“Of the 1,766 local premises on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme 1,272 have a rating of five which means standards are very good.

However, where non-compliance is identified we will address it and take appropriate enforcement action which includes prosecution where necessary.”

The data from FSA shows the results of food hygiene intervention inspections in the local authority, over the 12 months to April.