WHILE this paper has exposed many horrors lurking in Oxfordshire kitchens new research reveals the county is actually above average for food hygiene standards.

A full map of ratings by postcode in England has been compiled by Claims Direct.

It shows the average food hygiene score of food outlets in the OX postcode is 4.61 based on 4,505 locations, higher than the national figure of 4.52.

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Oxfordshire did particularly high for its takeaways, with an average score of 4.19 for food standards against 4.06 nationally.

The best place for a meal out was Dorchester with an average score of 4.85 based on 1,890 locations.

Food hygiene inspections are carried out by local councils who have dedicated teams who do routine inspections as well as respond to customer complaints.

Ratings are given out of five and inspectors judge how staff handle food, how it is stored and prepared, as well as the cleanliness of facilities.

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The training given to employees, records kept to proof standards are being maintained, and the general cleanliness and condition of the building are also taken into consideration.

The full interactive map can be viewed here.