THE first recipient of a new award for catering businesses in Rossendale has been announced.

Bengal Tiffin in Manchester Road, Haslingden, is the first winner of the Recipe 4 Health' award set up recently between Rossendale Council's Environmental Health Department and Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service.

The award was launched to encourage businesses to promote healthy eating, provide wholesome and safe food, and to bring about environmental improvements in catering premises in the area.

Those who make the grade are awarded a certificate and window sticker to display at their premises.

The businesses are assessed by Environmental Health Officers and Trading Standards Officers on the basis of how businesses comply with legal requirements, the healthy eating options offered, how the environment is protected and how to demonstrate allergy information.