An independent supermarket has been named one of the 14 most unhygienic supermarkets in the UK.

The Cheam Food Centre, in London Road, received the damning rating after food hygiene and safety inspectors from Sutton Council inspected the supermarket last year.

The inspection, carried out in July 2014, raised serious concerns about the cleanliness of the supermarket and issued a 0 out of 5 rating.

Inspectors routinely check supermarkets and other food outlets on a regular basis, and at present only 14 across the UK have been given a 0 rating.

Routine checks include reviewing the cleanliness, layout, food preparation, storage and management of the food outlet.

Cheam Food Centre was included in the list with four other London supermarkets.

Peter Druhus, from the store, said that the supermarket was expanding and hoped to get a better rating in the future.

He said: "We are currently in the middle of making some big changes in the store.

"The store is expanding. There will be new fridges, new flooring and roofing, so there is a lot going on right now.

"Hopefully when all the changes have been made we will go up in the ratings."

Mr Druhus said that he expected the changes to the supermarket to be over by Christmas.

In April residents in neighbouring Lavender Avenue and Courtney Road raised concerns about fetid pools and piles of rubbish building up in an alley way behind the parade of shops.

Sutton Council explained that because the road was under private ownership it was outside its jurisdiction but it was working with the businesses to improve the situation.