A FAST food restaurant in Basingstoke has been rated as one out of five for its hygiene standard, but a copy of the report into the findings cannot be released because the branch is under investigation.

McDonald's, at the Brighton Hill Retail Park, in Winchester Road, was visited by a food and safety officer on July 16 who found improvements are needed in food handling, and cleanliness and condition of the building.

Major improvements are needed in the management of food safety.

The officer, from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, inspected various aspects of the chain restaurant, including the hygienic handling of food such as preparation, cooking, re-heating and storage; hand washing facilities; and the systems in place to ensure food is safe to eat.

As a result of the inspection, the restaurant was given a one out of five for its hygiene, the second lowest after nought.

However, when The Gazette requested to see a copy of the detailed report into the findings, we were told by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council that the McDonald's is “currently the subject of an ongoing legal investigation”, meaning the report cannot be released.

The spokeswoman added: “The Environmental Health Team is working with the restaurant to ensure the deficiencies that we found at the time of the inspection are rectified.”

She said standards had improved since the inspection which has allowed the restaurant to continue serving food.

A spokesman for McDonald's said: “Hygiene, health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. This rating was unfortunately based on one issue which was resolved immediately. We understand that the environmental health officer will visit again at the end of the month, and we hope to have our previous five star rating restored.”

Under the terms of the food hygiene rating scheme administered by the Food Standards Agency, the restaurant must keep its current rating for a minimum of three months before it can apply for a re-rating visit.