THE owner of a fish and chip shop criticised by food hygiene bosses has urged customers to come back after his business was praised following a second inspection.

In November, Madeira Fish Bar in Hailey Road, Witney, was given a one-star rating by West Oxfordshire District Council environmental health officers.

But now the chippy has been handed a five-star rating after owner Manuel Saletes made all the improvements asked of him.

He said he hoped people would come flooding back for food at the shop following the inspection on January 27.

Mr Saletes said: "The problem is that I lost 60 per cent of businesses because people heard about the one-star rating.

"They have started to come back but it will take about six months or so to get back to normal I think.

"I would like to ask my customers to come back.

"It is the best fish in Witney. We have a special batter and we had a very good reputation before.

"It has always been a very busy chippy because of our fresh fish."

Inspectors battered the shop first time around after they found saveloy sausages two weeks out of date.

They also remarked on flies swarming around fish that had been left out and noted several cleaning issues.

Raw burgers were stored over cheese in the shop fridge and staff were told to make sure raw food was always kept below ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross contamination.

Mr Saletes said he had already made the improvements shortly after the inspection in order to get a five-star rating.

He said: "I made all the improvements and changed all the things that the inspector told me to.

"I think they have been fair with this inspection.

"As well as fish we also do burgers and pies but the fish is the thing I really concentrate on, it is the main thing.

"I am hoping custom will soon be back to normal."

Improvements were also made to dirty shelving and damaged tiles.

Clutter was removed to aid cleaning and curtains were removed from shelves, as well as freezer lids getting a clean.

The five-star rating means the shop has now been deemed to have 'very good' hygiene standards.