FOOD hygiene standards will be cleaned up across west Cheshire as the area takes part in a Government pilot scheme.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) is working with a range of organisations to improve the poorest performing food businesses and tackle other issues alongside food hygiene.

Teams from food hygiene, licensing and private sector housing are working together with Cheshire Fire and Rescue, Cheshire Police, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Home Office Immigration, as part of the Better Business Partnership pilot.

Cllr Lynn Riley, CWAC's executive member for localities, said: “A food hygiene inspection can also uncover a number of issues for other council services, for example, late night licensing, standards of accommodation above shops and local nuisance caused by cooking odours and noise; as well as immigration and financial irregularities."

Food businesses are inspected by a council food safety officer and rated zero to five, where five is excellent, under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, run in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.

The ratings for all food businesses can be seen on the Food Standards Agency’s website to help inform customers.

CWAC is now targeting 92 businesses that currently have a Food Hygiene Rating of two or below.

Cllr Riley said: “The majority of our local food businesses in the borough are rated four or five in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

"Premises with very low food hygiene standards are not only letting down standards in the borough but they are potentially putting customers at risk.

"We are keen to encourage members of the public to take note of standards and to make their own choices as to where they eat or shop."