HYGIENE ratings for food businesses across Bexley are now available online.

Bexley Council's food safety team has given hygiene ratings to all businesses which sell food across the borough.

It is part of the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and all scores will be published on the FSA's national website.

Cabinet member for environment, Councillor Gareth Bacon, said: "The online ratings scheme will help you choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving you information about the hygiene standards in restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways, supermarkets, food shops and hotels.

"We hope that by signing up to the national scheme we will help improve food hygiene standards in food businesses and raise awareness of food hygiene issues among business owners and consumers.

"If there is no score displayed it may be that the business is awaiting inspection, or that they are ashamed of their poor rating.

"Before you order why not ask them why they aren’t displaying their rating?"

The numbers indicate the following standards: five - very good, four - good, three - satisfactory, two - improvement necessary, one - major improvement necessary, zero - urgent improvement necessary.

Shocking results include Queen Mary’s Hospital and St Mary’s Care Home, in Main Road, Sidcup, which both scored zero.

The Boat House in Danson Park and Croft Day Nursery, in Woolwich Road, Abbey Wood both only scored one.

There is a short delay between inspection and publication of the ratings to allow businesses to appeal their rating if they feel it is unfair.

If you have eaten at any of the places which have received a low rating, call the newsroom on 01689 885 734 or 01689 885 726.

To look up the food hygiene ratings, visit ratings.food.gov.uk/authority-search/bexley