Inspectors fear that there is a high risk of foods being contaminated at a butchers that was given a 0/5 hygiene rating.

Watford Halal Meat Centre at Chester Road was told that “urgent improvement” was necessary after a hygiene inspection by the Food Standards Agency in September – in which alarms were raised over several hygiene concerns.

Inspectors noted that staff used “filthy, dirty, blood-stained rags” to wipe meat off hands, which was used repeatedly opposed to washing hands.

The rag was heavily stained, with some appearing to be old stains suggesting it was reused over several days, inspectors wrote.

In fact, there the Food Standards Agency report says there were no wash hand basins anywhere, with only dirty sinks available for equipment and utensils.

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Fears were sparked over cross contamination between raw meats and vegetables, due to the lack of hand washing and use of disposable gloves.

Cleaning chemicals for surfaces, meat cutting and processing machines not been approved, so inspectors found there was a risk of food poisoning organisms growing on equipment.

It was concluded that a deep clean was needed urgently of all surfaces and flooring.

There was also five floor tiles that were “broken and beyond repair” with “filthy flooring in places to the rear of the food preparation area, serving storage and corridor”.

Some of the flooring needed “replacing and repairing” where badly damaged and "uncleanable".

The meat centre was one of three Watford eateries between September and November to be told they needed to make urgent improvement.

Watford Halal Meat Centre was approached for a comment.