A North East hotel has been handed a two-star hygiene rating after flies were found in food storage areas.

Brockley Hall Hotel, in Saltburn, was told that there was 'improvement necessary' in how they handle food.

Along with the flies, there were issues with the walk-in chiller and the chopping boards were described as not being capable of being effectively cleaned

Phillip Jeffels, restaurant manager, described how he looks forward to redeeming the hotel at the next inspection.

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He said: "Obviously we are disappointed with the rating which was mainly the result of the mechanical failure on a large walk in refrigerator on the hottest day of the year.

"This was repaired the following day and we have had no further problems, the other items were all minor issues as stated by the officer at the time of the inspection and were resolved on the day.

"We are awaiting a re-inspection, when we anticipate our rating will be restored."

Redcar and Cleveland Council released the full report which focuses on three main categories: Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, hygienic food handling and management of food safety.

According to the report from June 15 the temperature of the food chiller was too high and contained high-risk foods such as milk and cheese.

The readings from the cooler ranged from 15C-20C.

Other high-risk foods such as smoked salmon, crab meat and oysters were also in the cooler.

Guidelines state that those foods must not be stored above 8C.

A number of areas were identified as 'not being effectively cleaned'.

This included the equipment storeroom, the door of a chest freezer and the underside surfaces of soap dispensers.

The report also identified: "An opened bottle of Sriracha sauce was also not being stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

"Foodstuffs - including desserts and individual steak and ale pies - were being stored on open trays in the refrigerator and were uncovered.

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"Blanched chips were being stored directly underneath the soap dispenser at the hand wash in the brasserie section.

"Flying insects were present within the food preparation and storage areas.

"Spices, tapioca, and black onion seeds were found in the dry store cupboard past their best-before date."