THE month of April so far has seen a number of new hygiene ratings handed out to restaurants, cafés and canteens in Runcorn and Widnes.

Inspections are routinely carried out to ensure that establishments are up to scratch with food hygiene regulations.

Inspections are carried out based on the following criteria:

Hygienic food handling - Hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.

Management of food safety - System or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future.

Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building - Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building (including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control) to enable good food hygiene.

Here are the ratings published on the Food Standards Agency's website in April:

Five:

Betta Snax, Shaw Street, Runcorn

Chi Kee Chinese, Padstow Square, Runcorn

Crown Inn, Birchfield Road, Widnes

Papas Pizzas, Albert Road, Widnes

Paul's Widnes Fish Bar, Lower House Lane, Widnes

Starbucks, Bridge Retail Park, Thomas Jones Way, Runcorn

Subway, Fir Park, Widnes

The Beechwood Hotel, Beechwood Avenue, Runcorn

The Hub, Victoria Square, Widnes

The Prospect Inn, Weston Road, Runcorn

The Venue, Victoria Square, Widnes

Upton Fish Bar, Bechers, Widnes

West Bank Boat Club by Zena, Upper Mersey Road, Widnes

Four:

Barton Rouge, Lunts Heath Road, Widnes

Redi Noodles, Widnes Market, Bradley Way, Widnes

Yummy Hut, Victoria Road, Widnes

Three:

Chestnut Lodge Supper Bar, Liverpool Road, Widnes

Chicago Pizza, Devonshire Place, Runcorn

Miami Pizza, Regent Street, Runcorn

The Bakehouse (Cheshire) Ltd, Highlands Road, Runcorn