PART of East Lancashire has been named in a study as one of the worst areas in the country for food hygiene.

Hyndburn was ranked the second-worst area in the nation for food hygiene standards in 2016/17, behind Birmingham.

In total, 98 per cent of its businesses were rated for risk with just two in five (43.2 per cent) of its medium and high-risk food businesses meeting food hygiene standards.

Cllr Paul Cox, cabinet member for food safety on Hyndburn Council, said the figures were ‘misleading’ and the council had improved food standards dramatically.

He said: “We’ve made significant improvements in Hyndburn in recent years in these areas.

“We’ve added additional resources to drive up compliance

“We’ve been holding food safety events for businesses and this was what they were about, bringing up the ratings.

“The figures are a bit misleading, they use data from the year before.

“I think the next time figures are released we’ll have seen a big improvement.”

Last month Hyndburn Council said the drive to improve food safety standards in the borough resulted in 92 per cent of food businesses now being compliant with the Food Standards Agency Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme.

Additionally, 84 per cent of them achieved a four or five food hygiene rating.

Which? said the statistics were formed using data from the 2016/17 Local Authority Monitoring System, collected by the Food Standards Agency, and ranked 390 local authorities across the UK.

Blackburn with Darwen ranked 277th out of the authorities, with 83.4 per cent of its medium and high-risk food businesses meeting food hygiene standards.

Rossendale and Burnley ranked 105th and 101st respectively, with 86.2 per cent and 87 per cent of the businesses inspected meeting the standards.

Ribble Valley was ranked 73rd in the country with 89.5 per cent of business meeting the standards.

Pendle was placed 56th, on 96.4 per cent.