RESTAURANTS and takeaways in south Oxfordshire have proved they are sparkling with cleanliness after being handed top hygiene awards.

Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils have given the awards to food businesses which earned five stars in their Scores on the Doors scheme, launched two years ago.

Thirteen food premises in South Oxfordshire and nine in the Vale received the accolade last Friday. In the Vale, the number of five-star premises has risen from seven at the launch to 71 Annastacia Abbotts, catering manager at Bright Horizons Nursery in Cholsey near Wallingford, which looks after more than 180 children aged up to five, said: “We pride ourselves on our excellent food hygiene.”

Scores on the Doors is a national scheme rating food hygiene in premises selling food.