FANCY a break from cooking this weekend? Keen to find a new favourite takeaway to help get you through the coronavirus lockdown?

We've compiled a list of takeaways in the Dudley borough with the best food hygiene ratings.

There are 284 takeaways in the borough, data the Food Standards Agency shows, and 83 have top hygiene ratings of five stars.

A rating of five means the business has achieved top marks for the hygienic handling of food, the cleanliness of the premises and having checks in place to ensure food is safe to eat and that staff know about food safety following inspections by Dudley Council's food hygiene inspectors.

Councillor Nicolas Barlow, the council's cabinet member responsible for environmental health, said: “We work very closely with all food outlets to make sure they have high standards of hygiene and safety – something that the public have every right to expect."

Nearly a third of all takeaways in the borough have a five star rating which means they have "fully documented and regularly reviewed and updated food safety management systems, with safe working procedures, fully trained staff and excellent standards of facility and cleanliness", Cllr Barlow (pictured below) said.

Stourbridge News: Councillor Nic Barlow, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for adult social care.

People can check the ratings of all Dudley's eateries online at food.gov.uk.

Food hygiene inspectors have been unable to carry out regular visits for the last few weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak but the council has stressed that higher risk or new premises due for inspection during this period have been contacted.

Cllr Barlow added: “We are carrying out monitoring checks remotely. Our officers will also of course visit any situation deemed to be an immediate risk to health, following the necessary safety checks.

“It’s very important that all businesses follow the latest government advice and make arrangements for customers to be able to socially distance when picking up food. We have also offered advice such as encouraging contactless payments, ordering in advance and social distancing suggestions.”

Many of the borough's most popular takeaways have continued to operate throughout the coronavirus lockdown but it is advisable to check with individual businesses whether they are currently open.

All those located at intu Merry Hill have been closed during lockdown - apart from Subway on the lower mall which has a food hygiene rating of 4.