RESTAURANTS, pubs and takeaways in the Malvern area can expect their just desserts when a new scheme is introduced to reveal the standard of food hygiene at each premises.

A hygiene rating award by inspectors will have to be displayed at each premises and will also be able to be viewed on the Malvern Hills District Council website.

The district council is part of a scheme, called Scores on the Doors, being developed by councils across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, taking the best and most popular aspects of other systems in the country.

Ivor Pumphrey, the council's head of service excellence, said: "It is already used in some parts of the country and it is widely used in the USA. It is objective because it is looking at hygiene."

The scheme would require owners of food outlets to post the results of food inspections visibly on their premises - possibly on their front door - to inform potential customers of the standards of food hygiene and safety, whether good or bad.

Armed with this information, consumers will be able to choose where to eat based on both the menu and knowing the standards of food hygiene.

"It is a win-win situation for everybody. It is good for the customer and it is good for the businesses. It will lift standards and that is what we want," said Mr Pumphrey. "The ratings will be published on our website so people can decide whether they want the food from a place before they leave the house."

He said the scheme would reward those businesses that have consistently high standards and those receiving a poor rating will have to work hard to ensure they get a better rating in future.