A NEW chip shop in Worcester was "gobsmacked" to receive its recent one-star food hygiene rating.

Newtown Takeaway, on Newtown Road, was given the score after a recent assessment on November 9, the Food Standards Agency's website shows.

In the report, the restaurant was rated good in hygienic food handling and generally satisfactory in the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building.

However, major improvement was necessary to manage food safety, such as systems or checks being in place to ensure food sold or served was safe to eat.

Zac Ahmed, the owner, said he was gobsmacked with the recent rating and said it was due to paperwork not being filled out correctly. 

"I have arranged for them to come back out to rate us - I wanted them to come back the next day but the next slot they have is in around two months," he said.

Newtown Takeaway opened its doors in October at the location of the old Newtown Fryer. 

The family-run business promises premier fish and chips and crispy fried chicken. 

Mr Ahmed said he wants to assure customers that the takeaway is clean. It was just paperwork issues that led to the rating.

"When we first opened in October, we had a great first week and are now starting to see faces come back," he added. 

"The response has been great, and we are building a good reputation in the area."

He said he owns Pickersleigh's Takeaway and Diner and Malvern Link Fish Bar in Malvern, and both have high hygiene ratings on the Food Standards Agency's website.

Earlier this year, Newtown Fryer closed, blaming "accidental damage to the shop".

A notice on the Newtown Fryer website and on the FoodHub website said at the time: "We are closed till further notice due to accidental damage to the shop.

"We are really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."