A PRIMARY school in Burnley has been told to clean up its act after getting just one out of a possible five stars in newly-published food hygiene ratings.

Major improvements are needed to the kitchens at Whittlefield Primary, in Tabor Street, according to environmental health inspectors, who have visited almost 1,000 sites in Burnley and Pendle.

The school was rated in the bottom three per cent in Burnley.

A senior councillor said school hygiene should be ‘the highest priority’.

Coun Peter Doyle, who represents Whittlefield and Ightenhill on Burnley Council and is Conservative Group leader, said: “I would have thought that anything in the public realm, like a school, then hygiene should be their highest priority. I would exp-ect urgent improvements to now be made.”

Governors were told the school had been given the single star score, in the Food Standards Agency-backed ratings initiative, following a visit in February.

School chiefs say immediate cleanliness problems were tackled, and an overhaul of the kitchen will take place this summer.

No stars were handed out to the Moonlight takeaway, in Croft Street, Burnley; Oliver’s off-licence, in New Hall Street, Stoneyholme; and Focus off-licence, in Briercliffe Road.

In Pendle no premises were given the lowest score.

Teams of inspectors have been touring any establishments in the two boroughs which serve food, from cafes and takeaways, to hotels, staff canteens and nightclubs.

Mother-of-two Shelley Crossland, whose daughters attend the school, said: “I think one of the problems is the lack of money.

The school should have an up-to-date kitchen, but it’s in the oldest part of the building.”

Fellow parent Leanne Martin added: “The food hygiene might not be great, but it’s a fabulous school and I’ve never known any problems.”

Another woman, whose niece goes to the school, said: “I think they have always put off getting it sorted out because of the budget. I’m happy to see it’s going to be sorted out because it’s always been this way, even when I was at the school 10 years ago.”

Borough council leader Coun Charlie Briggs, also county councillor for Burnley Central West, said it appeared the problem was a ‘blip’.

“The inspection appears to have come too early for the school,” said Coun Briggs.

“I have been assured by the headmistress that initial problems have been tackled and a major refurbishment is planned for the kitchens.”

Whittlefield headteacher Julie Caygill said: “Following an inspection of the school’s kitchen in February, remedial works, including redecorating, were immediately carried out.

“It should be noted these works were already in the school’s building plan prior to the inspection. It is planned to fully refurbish the kitchen during the summer holiday.”

Top ratings in Pendle were awarded to the Cotton Tree Inn, near Colne; Santa’s, of Leeds Road, Nelson; KFC, in Colne; Barocco’s, in Fence; the Cross Keys Inn, Barnoldswick; and several primary schools.

In total, 621 places in Burnley, and 350 in Pendle, have been inspected so far.