Clean up your act - or you have had your chips! Grotty eateries warned they must improve.

Byline: RICHARD DOWN

THE city's grottiest eateries have been told to clean up or face legal action, fines or closure.

Five takeaways and restaurants that were named and shamed last December have failed to improve.

Golden Harvest on Wavertree Nook Road, Wavertree, Deb's Diner, on Finch Lane, Dovecot, The New Chippery, and Pizza Zone, both on Smithdown Road, Wavertree and Kim Lee, on Woolton Road, Garston were found to have poor hygiene in two snap inspections inside 12 months.

Environmental health officers checked kitchens, toilets and dining areas during surprise visits.

All five eateries have been given an action plan that they must complete within the next six to 12 months.

Pizza Zone has already been hit with a pounds 3,811 fine at Liverpool magistrates court.

A spokesman for Liverpool city council said: "The prosecution was because it didn't improve at all and wouldn't take on any of the suggested measures."

The others could also face fines and closures if they fail to improve.

A second swathe of dirty eateries exposed by online public hygiene website Scores on the Doors last December have been punished. Uncle J's, on St Mary's Road, Garston, was hit with pounds 18,500 in costs and fines and the owner banned from running a food business.

Loon Wei Li, of Hunts Cross Avenue, was fined pounds 2,500 and owner Koon Cheung Lee was banned from ever running a food business.

But a number of restaurants and takeaways have improved dramatically since their last council inspection.

Mei Wi, on Prescot Road, has won two stars in the last inspection, while Tazmi Balti House, in Derby Lane, Old Swan, leapt to a four-star rating after a poor performance last year.

Jin Yuan, in Finch Lane, Dovecot, Noor Tandoori, on Aigburth Road, Aigburth, and Khan's Kebabs, in Walton Vale, have also made significant improvements after council intervention.

A string of other diners and take outs have not yet been reassessed after being found to be below par last year. They are likely to face surprise inspections before Christmas.

Cllr Berni Turner, the city council's executive member for the environment, said: "Since it was introduced in 2006 Scores on the Doors has been a real incentive for businesses to go that extra mile in making sure they achieve excellent hygiene levels.

"Congratulations to the environmental health team for their work with businesses.

"We provide free, multi-lingual workshops and regularly visit and work with owners.

"We have increased the number of three star restaurants and takeaways, making sure customers can be confident in the quality of food they're eating."

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WARNING: Pizza Zone (above) and The New Chippery (left), both on Smithdown Road, Wavertree