The co-owner of a Swindon pub is disappointed with its new food hygiene rating after he claimed inspectors visited when work was going on to fix a burst pipe.

Sunny Patel, from The Patriots Arms in Chiseldon, claims the kitchen was closed for refurbishment at the time of the surprise inspection.

Swindon Borough Council's food hygiene team visited the business on January 7, giving them a rating of just one out of five.

Two of the three categories - hygienic food handling, and the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building - were considered to be generally satisfactory.

But the inspectors decided that major improvement is necessary with regards to the management of food safety because - according to the full report - no food safety management system or due diligence documents were available to be examined.

So, overall, the New Road pub has been given a one out of five rating.

Mr Patel told the Adver: "The pub was completely closed and there was work going on in the kitchen. We explained the situation to the inspectors but it made no difference.

"We were also repairing a leak from a burst pipe on the same day.

"The kitchen is now open again, things have improved and we are ready for the second visit. We look forward to welcoming the inspectors back soon."

Note: An old version of this article had a file photo from 2020 that included Sanjay Dogra, who has since left the Patriots Arms to manage The Harrow Inn, which has a five-out-of-five food hygiene rating.