MAJOR improvements are needed at The George Hotel in Yarmouth after it received a shock one star hygiene rating.

The establishment, currently offering rooms in October for between £225 and £425 per night, has been found to be below standard in food handling and food safety.

Inspectors said conditions were "generally satisfactory" as regards the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building.

However, there is "major improvement necessary" when it comes to hygienic handling of food, including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.

The same damning status was given to food safety — major improvement necessary in the areas of system or checks in place to ensure food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future.

The hotel has had a chequered history with regards to food ratings.

In February 2016 it had a four star rating, which a year later plummeted to zero.

A further inspection in July 2017, six months later, found it was still a zero rating.

It went up to one star in February 2018, then up again to four stars in November 2018.

The latest one star rating was recorded on September 11 this year.

More to follow.