NINE out of 10 ethnic restaurants tested by Environmental Health inspectors in Bolton were found to be potential health risks, a report has revealed.

Out of 40 restaurants and takeaways, which volunteered to be tested, 37 were shown to be in the two highest hygiene risk categories.

Inspectors have promised a crackdown on dirty kitchens claiming they had little or no confidence in almost half of those they inspected.

The owners of the worst restaurants could be asked to attend hygiene workshops on how to handle food, and interpreters for chefs could be brought in to advise chefs on standards of cleanliness.

Around a third of the food outlets visited were rated as bad or very bad for equipment and staff hygiene.

Two were considered to have a significant risk of contamination by potentially deadly bacteria such as Clostridium Botulinum and E. coli 0157.

Seven were considered to be a "very high risk" while just under a third were considered to have "bad" problems when it came to hygiene and safety problems.

Health officers launched the study last year following concern that many ethnic minority businesses did not meet acceptable health standards. And Cllr Guy Harkin, executive member for environment at Bolton Council, warned that restaurants which did not clean up their acts would be shut down and their owners prosecuted.

He said that staff at Asian restaurants were less likely to have formal training than those at other eateries.

Cllr Harkin said: "Things are getting better but we will not accept any restaurants which do not measure up to the acceptable standards."

Cllr Harkin will consider what action to take at a meeting with senior officers next week.

Alan Doodson, assistant director for environmental health at the council, claims much of the risk at restaurants is caused by the traditional way that food is handled: the types of foods used, such as raw meat and the number of meals passing through kitchens.

Mr Doodson said: "We believe that hiring translators would be a significant move forward in communicating to restaurants the standards we expect."

But Rasik Gulab Mistry, owner of Rukshmanis Restaurant on Derby Street, Bolton -- which was given the all-clear by environmental health officers -- says standards are improving.

He said: "Many of the chefs at these restaurants are coming over from Asia and are not used to the standards that are expected here.

"But people should not be put off going for a curry. If a restaurant serves good food, has good service and clean toilets it is likely the kitchen will be up to scratch too."