Customers have expressed their shock and disgust after a North East KFC that has only been open for just over two months has been hit by a zero food hygiene rating. 

Despite the fast food giant opening a restaurant on Salterfen Park in Sunderland in October, it has already been handed the lowest rating from food health inspectors. 

After welcoming the new restaurant into the area, which boasted 30 new jobs for the North East, customers have been expressing their shock at KFC receiving such a low mark.

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However, in a report published on Friday (January 6), inspectors are said to have told staff at the restaurant that urgent improvements to some areas need to be made.

In the inspection, which took place on December 1, health inspectors have highlighted 'urgent improvement necessary' in the 'management of food safety' section, which covers 'system or checks in place to ensure that 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'.

Meanwhile, the Sunderland KFC branch also fell short in the 'cleanliness and condition of facilities and building' section - getting feedback of 'major improvement necessary'.

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Despite the restaurant getting a 'good' rating in the hygienic food handling section, it did not prevent it from getting the zero food hygiene rating.  

Following the publishing of the food report, customers that have used the restaurant were left shocked, with one person saying: "I can't believe it's been given such a low rating," while another added: "This is shocking - hopefully they improve their rating very soon."

KFC has been contacted for a comment.