A takeaway premises has been making necessary changes after it needed to make "urgent and major improvements" to meet hygiene standards.

Cheriton Balti & Tandoori Takeaway in Cheriton High Street, Folkestone, scored zero in ratings issued by the Food Standards Agency.

The inspection, which took place in March, says that the cleanliness of the premises and the handling of food requires major improvement and that "improvement is necessary" in the hygienic food handling category.

It was marked on its ability to handle food, including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.

Inspectors also looked at the condition of facilities and the building, which includes having appropriate ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control to enable good hygiene, the report says.

Management of food safety looks at the way food is sold, and whether it is safe to eat, and that there is evidence of staff knowing about regulations.

Despite it scoring the lowest possible grading the business was not closed down.

Instead, Shepway District Council sent the owner a list of improvements that were needed which included a schedule for the work.

A council spokesman said: "We went back again on March 13 to check that immediate improvements had been made, which they had.

"Another visit is due to check on any outstanding repairs and to make sure the schedule has been complied with.

"After three months – during which time we would have to be satisfied that the improvement has been sustained – the owner could ask us for a full inspection and to re-rate the hygiene score."

Co-owner of the business Ronnie Alam said: "We are doing improvements like repair work.

"The practices were fine it was just the repair work.

"The inspector came back to us last week after the story was written online and said that the necessary works are being done and we are going to have a re-score in the coming months.

"She is happy with all of the works we have carried out and she said it was all top knotch and said I will get a good rating next time and to keep the standard up.

"We have been here since 2002 and when people see the hygiene rating they think the food is bad, but the basic cleanliness has always been to the required standard."