New owners of an Indian restaurant and takeaway formerly found with mould inside have turned a damning one-star rating around.

Tandoori Nights in Torrington Road, Ashford, was handed the highest rank by council inspectors in a hygiene review last month.

It came after manager Ahmed Siraj says he had to clear mould from the walls when he took over in November.

Inspectors made an unannounced visit last month to review the one-star score and found improvements had been made to an "exceptionally high standard".

Wye resident Mr Siraj, who had previously improved the Spice Garden in Little Burton, said: "When I first took it on, it was not exactly the way it should have been.

"It's a really old restaurant and we have given it a thorough clean.

"We cleaned all the surfaces, removed mould from the walls and repaired a gap in the sink to stop water from falling through.

"The inspector has found everything to be in a good state and said we had done a good job in a short time as everything is as it should be."

An environmental health officer from Ashford Borough Council says she was pleased to give out the five-star rating.

She said: "They have done everything I asked them to and a bit more so I have now uprated them to a five.

"It’s so good when new owners put the investment in to bring standards up.

"They were really proud of what they had achieved as well, so everyone wins."