FOOD hygiene courses that meet environment health standards are being offered as an online course.

West Oxfordshire District Council, responsible for conducting food safety checks for around 1,170 food establishments in the district, is offering the level 2 training courses - the level required for non-supervisory staff, at a cost of £30 per person.

Councillor David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Hygiene is of the utmost importance when handling food and when our environmental health officers conduct inspections, they check staff training and observe practices to ensure that staff are working to the required standards.

“We have had a lot of businesses asking if we provide training and by introducing this it will give them the chance to access a course from a reputable organisation, safe in the knowledge that they are learning the correct skills required of them.”

Food hygiene ratings for businesses can be checked on the council's website.