A South Oxfordshire pub has been told urgent improvement is necessary after being handed a new zero-out-of-five food hygiene rating.

The Bird in Hand, a country pub in Peppard Road, Sonning Common, was given the minimum possible score after an assessment by the Food Standards Agency on November 2.

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Standards found “major improvement necessary” in all three areas assessed: hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety.

Earlier this year, the pub was told to make major improvements after the previous inspection on May 11 in which it scored a one out of five rating.

A representative for the Bird in Hand said the pub did not wish to comment.