An Oldham takeaway that was slapped with a one food hygiene rating has been awarded a top score less than six months later.

Pickwicks Potatoes, in Tommyfield Market, claimed that Oldham Council "moves the goalposts" following a visit from the food inspector at the end of September that saw its rating slashed.

However, after just five months, Joyce Steel, manager at the potato hut, ended up kissing the inspector who handed their business a five food hygiene rating.

The Oldham Times: Pickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene ratingPickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene rating (Image: Joe Yates, Newsquest)

The 48-year-old said: "I've worked here for 35 years, I started as a Saturday girl, to get a five has made me so happy.

"When the food inspector came and gave us a five I was so happy I just asked her can I kiss you! It felt like winning the lottery or something.

"She was really impressed with us and she was actually really apologetic for giving us a one when she last came."

The Oldham Times: Pickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene ratingPickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene rating (Image: Joe Yates, Newsquest)

When the officer came the first time, they marked Pickwicks down for not using the most up-to-date health and safety management booklet, and for only having one sink instead of two.

Joyce continued: "Obviously we updated the book because we had the old book, and we replaced our original sink with two."

It is not the first time Pickwicks has received top marks from the inspector, having received one "way before Covid".

The Oldham Times: Pickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene ratingPickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene rating (Image: Joe Yates, Newsquest)

Even after receiving a poor food hygiene rating, business only seemed to pick up after the report went in The Oldham Times.

Joyce added: "We had no bad feedback when we got the one rating - if anything we got more customers because one returned once he saw the story, as we stopped doing a certain filling and they saw in the pictures that we're doing it again.

"We're honestly just so happy, we knew it was just paperwork and it was nothing to do with the food and this proves that."

The Oldham Times: Pickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene ratingPickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene rating (Image: Joe Yates, Newsquest)

Pickwicks Potatoes has plans to display the new rating at the front of the shop once it arrives.

Cllr Chris Goodwin, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, added:  “This is brilliant news and I’d like to congratulate the owners on the big improvement.

“It’s good to hear they took our advice and support on board and it’s paying off. We wish them and their customers all the best for the future.

The Oldham Times: Pickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene ratingPickwicks Potatoes has received a five food hygiene rating (Image: Joe Yates, Newsquest)

“Our officers never want to hand out a one star rating but we do it for a reason."

He added: “We want to support businesses and Pickwicks is a good example of what can be achieved if we work together.

“Eighty-seven percent of food businesses across the borough are rated four stars and above for hygiene and we’d like to see that figure go even higher.

"We're waiting for the certificate then we'll put it at the front of the shop."