The owner of a Watford meat store says he is “delighted” after its food hygiene rating was boosted from 0/5 to 3/5.

Makkah Foodstore in Chester Road was told that “urgent improvement” was necessary after a hygiene inspection by the Food Standards Agency in September last year.

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

Read more - Store needs urgent improvement

However, the store made improvements before another inspection was carried out on February 2, in which they were given a score of 3/5.

Zahid Hussain, who owns the store, said: “We’re delighted we have been re-inspected and now been given a ‘satisfactory’ rating.

“We previously made mistakes but we have learnt from them and are now doing everything we can to maintain great food hygiene at all times in our store.”

The Food Standards Agency says the full report of the new inspection will be published soon.