A Middlesbrough supermarket has been slapped with a zero food hygiene rating - and has closed its doors for ten days. 

Heron Foods, on Eastbourne Road, has been told that urgent improvement is necessary after receiving the rating at a food hygiene inspection on September 25. 

The supermarket, which is based at the town's Palladium Shops, was ranked “major improvement necessary” in all three areas looked at by food hygiene officers. 

These include hygienic food handling (food preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling, and storage), the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, and the management of food safety (staff food safety knowledge and checks in place).

A spokesperson for the chain said: "We made a collaborative decision with the local authority to close the store for 10 days to protect our customers from the risks caused by flooding through a third-party property."

Heron Foods has more than 340 shops throughout the UK, with locations across Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, and Darlington. 

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The discount chain is known for selling a range of produce including frozen food, bakery items, fridge and cupboard essentials, and alcohol. 

It was bought by discount retailer B&M back in 2017 in a major deal. 

The Northern Echo is awaiting the full hygiene inspection report from Middlesbrough Council.