GROTTY pubs, restaurants and takeaways in west Wiltshire will be named and shamed on the internet for the first time.

Those failing to meet the required standards of cleanliness and food hygiene will be publicly exposed, as environmental health officers launch a five-star ratings system.

An estimated 600 venues serving food in west Wiltshire, including care homes and works canteens, will be rated under the Scores on Doors system over the next two years.

So far 24 venues have had their star ratings released, with a pub and a takeaway the first to receive a zero-star billing, the worst possible score.

Environmental health officers found poor hygiene conditions at The Kings Arms in Coppice Hill, Bradford on Avon and the Speedy Chef, in Weymouth Street, Warminster.

Both face further action by West Wiltshire District Council, which could ultimately result in closure or prosecution if standards are not brought up to scratch.

At the other end of the scale Italian restaurant Pizzeria Amici, in Silver Street, Bradford on Avon and Virgin Mobile's staff canteen in Trowbridge were awarded the maximum five-stars.

Each venue is judged on food safety and hygiene, structure and confidence in management. An overall two-star rating is a satisfactory level.

The move to publish ratings has been met with concern in the hospitality industry, with one landlord frustrated at the amount of red tape strangling licensed premises.

Peter Eveleigh, of the Riverside Inn, Bradford on Avon, said: "This is just one more administrative burden which the trade is going to have to absorb.

"The licence trade is taking a severe bashing from officialdom and competition from off-licences. They do not need any more bad publicity unless it is warranted.

"I would be very cautious about reviewing any star rating. Bad news travels 100 times faster than good news. How would the district council like to be sued for defamation of character?"

Concern was also voiced by the British Hospitality Assoc iation as ratings systems vary across the UK.

John Dyson, food and technical affairs advisor, said: "We are concerned the use of stars will confuse people more as stars are used in hotels for completely different reasons.

"It is difficult to compare one system in one part of the country with one in another.

"It seems to me councils have enforcement powers. All they have to do is use them when people are not complying with the law.

"This is another level of bureaucracy based on not very solid foundations."

Mr Dyson said another concern is that customers could assume a venue had a bad rating because it was not showing a certificate. At the moment venues have no legal obligation to display their rating.

District council principal environmental health officer David Bardwell said the Freedom of Information Act had prompted them to move forward with the scheme.

He said: "We are telling people, it might be cheap in this place but look at the hygiene score.

"They don't apply for these ratings, we give it to them.

"We are used to the star rating system - why shouldn't we know about where we eat or where we buy our food from?

"We hope in reality the public will support the businesses that are good and not support those that aren't.

"We are expecting a few unhappy phone calls but the view has got to be taken that we are doing this for the public and I expect a bit of stick for it."

The Kings Arms and the Speedy Chef declined to comment on their zero-star ratings.

Ratings can be found by visiting www.westwiltshire.gov.uk and looking up Scores on Doors on the A-Z. Updates will be posted monthly.