THERE are 19 food outlets in Bolton with a zero food hygiene rating.

According to the Food Standards Agency the outlets with the lowest ratings – which are based in Bolton, Farnworth, Kearsley, Westhoughton, Little Lever and Horwich - all need “urgent” improvement.

In Bolton it is the BL3 postcode that has the biggest number of zero rated food businesses – with seven falling within the area.

Postcode BL1 has three food outlets with a zero rating and BL2 has two.

Bolton North East MP David Crausby has previously called for all food venues to have to display their hygiene ratings and said the figure is "disgusting".

He added: "The public are the best inspectors and they should be able to see the food ratings so they can decide whether to eat there. Only then will the proprietors clean up their act, literally.

"In Wales it is compulsory for food outlets to display their food rating, so if it is good enough for the Welsh it should be good enough for us and I will pursue the Food Standards Agency about this.

"It is not good enough that restaurants only display the rating when it is good."

Bolton Council said that all businesses that score zero will be subject to follow up visits to check that standards have improved.

A council spokesman said: “The council’s food safety team is robust and vigilant in carrying out inspection and inspection frequency is based on the nature of each business and its compliance history.

"In Bolton, over 88 per cent of businesses have a rating of three or above and are now classed as broadly compliant with standards of food safety.

"Every business that scores zero is issued with a written warning, identifying any contraventions of food law and given a timescale to rectify any issues.

"Some are issued with Hygiene Improvement Notices and some may be subject to closure until standards have improved."

The list below is based on inspections that appear on the national Food Standards Agency website following council inspections.

Visits from the authority occur at different times and some businesses may be waiting forthcoming inspections.

Some may have changed management or closed in the interim. We will update our list in the coming months.

The Bolton News contacted each of the 19 takeaways for a comment but only one responded.

A spokesman for the Golden Crown in Kearsley said: "My shop is clean but they gave me zero. I can't tell you why. We keep it quite clean but they say it is still dirty."

  • Bolton Super Store— 38 Egerton Street Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 7LE (inspected December 2015).
  • Burger Bar—157 Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 5QE (inspected October 2015).
  • Casa Nostra— 2-4 Church Street, Westhoughton Bolton, BL5 3RS (inspected December 2015).
  • Dragon Inn— 32A Victory Road, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1QY (inspected February 2016).
  • Golden Crown— 2-4 Kearsley Mount Precinct, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8PZ (inspected June 2015).
  • Golden Village— 22 Manchester Road, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8NZ (inspected February 2016).
  • Prices— 96 Church Street, Westhoughton Bolton, BL5 3RZ (inspected December 2015).
  • Yummy Tummies —52 Higher Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9BB (inspected April 2015).
  • Charlies cheeses—Stall B3 Ashburner Street Market, Ashburner Street, Bolton, BL1 1TQ (inspected February 2016).
  • East To West—296 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, BL1 4JU (inspected 22 July).
  • Fanty Fashion—128-130 Bradshawgate Bolton, BL2 1AY (inspected June 2015).
  • K2 Taj Morris Green Lane Chippy—33 Morris Green Lane Bolton, BL3 3JD (inspected December 2015).
  • Kani Restaurant—148 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6JR (inspected February 2016).
  • Mr T's Chippy —498 Bridgeman Street, Bolton, BL3 6TJ (inspected October 2015).
  • Polski Sklep Eden — 314 Manchester Road, Bolton, BL3 2QS (inspected November 2015).
  • Sizzles— 68 Bridge Street, Bolton, BL1 2EF (inspected February 2016).
  • Spice Grill Express—609 Bury Road, Bolton, BL2 6HX (inspected January 2016).
  • The Chicken Shaq—10 St Helens Road, Bolton,BL3 3NH (inspected October 2015).
  • Xquisite —152-154 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6JR (inspected July 2015).