Nearly a quarter of all food hygiene inspections in Kent last year led to a written warning, according to new figures.

Data from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) shows that, in the 12 months to April, a total of 15,695 inspections were carried out by local authorities - leading to more than 3,500 warnings.

Safety breaches can include problems with cleanliness, training, washing facilities and the separation of raw and cooked food.

In some cases, warnings led to hygiene improvement notices, voluntary closures and even prosecutions - but for the majority of businesses, no enforcement action was taken.

In Tonbridge and Malling, more than 40% of inspections carried out in the past financial year led to a written warning.

Officials also issued 23 hygiene improvement notices, and one business was deemed "high risk" - meaning it will need to be inspected again within six months.

In Dover, almost 400 warnings were dished out, leading to two successful prosecutions in court.

There were also seven voluntary closures, and seven businesses classed as "high risk".

In Canterbury a quarter of inspections led to a warning, and one ended in prosecution - the city had the highest number issued, while Tunbridge Wells had the least.

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

Any breach of food hygiene regulations can lead to a written warning.

Officials then consider the seriousness of the case, before deciding on what action to take.

These warnings and notices are different to the zero to five score displayed in the windows of shops.

A spokesman from Dover council said: "These figures refer to specific data requested by the FSA, for the annual Local Authority Enforcement Management System (LAEMS) return, and are statistics that need to be seen in context.

"They are not a record of physical warnings issued to food businesses, but of when an area of non-compliance has been identified and brought to the attention of the food business operator.

"The figures do not represent the standard of food hygiene found across the district, where 98% of businesses achieved a rating of 3 and above."

Melanie Henbest, food and safety team manager at Tonbridge & Malling council, said: "Written warnings are an informal enforcement action and communicate non-compliances with legislation to the owner of a food business.

"It is routine to identify non-compliances during routine inspections conducted in accordance with the Food Standards Agency’s inspection requirements and officers highlight these to business operators in writing at the end of the inspection.

"Currently, 86% of food businesses in Tonbridge and Malling have a 4 or 5 hygiene rating."

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency added: "Analysis of local authority performance data helps us to understand how effectively and consistently official food controls are being delivered.

"We use the food law enforcement activity data and other intelligence to identify and target local authorities that appear to be performing least well and experiencing particular problems.

"We will carry out a range of risk-based interventions to challenge and support these authorities to help and ensure appropriate improvements are made so that public health continues to be protected."

Customers worried about poor hygiene practices are encouraged to report it at www.food.gov.uk