A sandwich and fast food restaurant in Maidstone has been given a Zero rating by the Food Standards Agency, indicating "an urgent need for improvement."

The ratings system goes from zero to five for a high quality establishment.

The agency said improvement was necessary to ensure the hygienic handling of food at the Fantastic Chicken restaurant in Sandling Road, Maidstone.

The cleanliness and condition of the building also needed improvement while there was an "urgent need" to ensure that checks were in place to guarantee that the food sold was safe to eat and that staff understood food safety.

A spokesman for Maidstone council said: “As part of a food and property routine inspection, Maidstone environmental health officers visited Fantastic Chicken in Sandling Road on November 20.

"Following the visit, the proprietor was given eight weeks to make the necessary improvements.

"Officers are due to revisit shortly and if the legal contraventions are still outstanding consideration may be given to formal action.”

Attempts were made to contact the restaurant for comment.

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