A POPULAR Indian restaurant in Ulverston has been given a damning hygiene rating of zero out of five by food safety officers in an inspection.

The score, awarded to Naaz, indicates ‘urgent improvement’ is necessary at the eatery.

Local authority officers judged that ‘major improvement’ was required in the areas of ‘hygienic food handling’ and ‘management of food safety’.

A third category - ‘cleanliness and condition of facilities and building’ - was handed a less-severe ‘improvement necessary’ rating.

The inspection at the restaurant in Queen Street was carried out on March 18, 2021.

A spokesman for South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) stressed the district in general had ‘an excellent record of compliance’ when it came to good food hygiene procedures.

He said: “The public can be reassured that the overwhelming majority of business owners know the law and take their responsibilities in relation to food safety and hygiene very seriously, with over 80 per cent of premises in South Lakeland achieving the highest ‘five’ rating.”

The food hygiene rating scheme is run by local authorities in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.

SLDC’s food safety officers make more than 1,500 food hygiene-related visits to premises in the district every year, promoting best practice and offering guidance.

Ratings do not reflect the quality of the food or the standard of service.

Naaz could not be reached for comment.