A PIZZA shop has been awarded a zero food hygiene rating - the lowest possible score - after an inspection.

An inspector found that Luigi's Pizza & Fish Bar, in Ombersley Road, Worcester, had food debris behind its kebab machine and on the ceiling of its microwave oven, along with a number of other issues.

It is now the only business in the city with a zero hygiene rating.

However, the owner of the shop said he was on holiday when the inspection took place and claims the problems have been fixed.

The hygiene report states: "Food debris is present behind the kebabs on the walls.

"No temperature records, cleaning schedule or identification of major risks has been carried out.

"The rear potato preparation outbuilding has a poor internal structure and is not easily cleanable.

"The microwave oven is unfit to use. It has large amounts of food debris on the inner ceiling. The ceiling appears defective.

"Wooden surfaces are worn, including a table and cupboards. They cannot be easily cleaned."

The inspector also said there was food debris in the rear yard and that the Safer Food Better Business sheets were available but not completed.

Worcestershire Regulatory Services carried out the inspection on June 21 and revisited on June 25, finding that work had been done to improve conditions.

Helen Cameron, food safety manager for Worcestershire Regulatory Services, said: "Further checks are being made to ensure the business complies with food hygiene law. The business can ask to be re-rated at any time."

Mirwais Rahimy, the owner of Luigi's Pizza & Fish Bar, said: "We have changed everything and the health officer is going to come next week. They are going to do another inspection. We were on four stars before, I'm sure we will be on five stars next time."

Mr Rahimy said he had replaced his heavy kebab machine with lighter equipment and cleared the food debris that was blocked behind it.

The owner claims his staff could not find the correct documents during the inspection.

He said he has changed the tiles in the potato preparation outbuilding and claims it is much cleaner now.

Mr Rahimy added that he has also replaced the wooden surfaces and microwave oven in his shop.

He denied that there was food waste in his rear yard.