A Chinese takeaway is “thrilled” after receiving a four-star hygiene rating following a previous bad inspection.

Bosses at Lam’s Garden in Ashford have described it as a “huge leap” from their previous score of one.

In January, inspectors handed them the second-lowest score after finding an “unidentifiable green substance” as well as dirt.

But they were revisited on May 9, with the new rating expected to be updated on the Food Standards Agency website soon.

In a statement, the business in Godington Road said: “We’re thrilled to share that after a rigorous reassessment, we’ve been awarded four stars for health and hygiene.

“This is a huge leap from our previous rating, reflecting the hard work, dedication, and significant improvements we’ve made.

”We want to sincerely thank our loyal customers for standing by us during this challenging time.

“Your support means everything to us. To those who may have been concerned by recent reports, we hear you, and we’ve taken every step to ensure the highest standards are met.

”While we were disappointed with our initial one-star rating, our first ever after years of consistent five-star ratings, we immediately addressed all issues and invested in training, processes, and equipment to not only meet but exceed expectations.”

Previously, a health inspector told bosses to deep clean the restaurant and remove clutter.

They also said they needed to designate a basin for handwashing, reduce risks of cross-contamination and replace broken food containers.