NEW food hygiene ratings have been given to restaurants, cafés and takeaways in Herefordshire.

All businesses handling food in the county are regularly checked by local authority food hygiene inspectors.

Businesses are rated out of five, with five being the highest score and zero meaning urgent improvement is necessary.

They are rated on their handling of food, the cleanliness and condition of facilities and buildings including layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control, and their systems and checks to ensure food sold or served is safe to eat, and evidence that staff know about food safety.

Here are the lastest ratings issued to restaurants and takeaways in Herefordshire:

Razbari, Eign Street, Hereford

Rating: two stars on October 8

Hygienic food handling: improvement necessary

Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building: improvement necessary

Management of food safety: generally satisfactory

What this rating means overall: improvement necessary

Dimarco's Fish Restaurant, Bargates, Leominster

Rating: three stars on October 7

Hygienic food handling: generally satisfactory

Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building: generally satisfactory

Management of food safety: generally satisfactory

What this rating means overall: generally satisfactory

Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas

Rating: five stars on October 28

Hygienic food handling: very good

Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building: good

Management of food safety: good

What this rating means overall: very good