A HAMPSHIRE pub has been given the worst rating for food hygiene.

The Seagull Pub on Cornaway Lane in Portchester has been given a zero rating by the environmental health officers from Fareham Borough Council following an inspection on January 4.

Health officers said that major improvements were needed in the management of food safety and that urgent improvements were needed in the cleanliness and condition of facilities and the building.

When asked by the Daily Echo for further findings,  a spokesman for Fareham Borough Council said: "This matter is still under investigation.

"As yet we don’t know what the outcome of this work is going to be and therefore we are not able to release any further information at this time."

A Greene King spokesperson for the Seagull said: “We fully recognise the standards expected of the pub were not adhered to when the EHO visited earlier this month due to some external building repairs, therefore we voluntarily closed the pub to conduct a thorough clean and external repairs.

"We have since conducted refresher training for all team members and undertaken a complete overhaul of hygiene procedures.

"We are continuing to working hard to ensure we meet the high standards expected of the business.”