Food inspectors in Bradford are among the UK's top performers after clocking up a record-breaking 3,629 visits to businesses last year.

Bradford Council is one of the few authorities in the country to not only reach, but exceed targets set by the Food Standards Agency.

Premises selling food must be visited regularly to check standards of hygiene and food safety. If inspectors notice anything amiss they warn traders and ask them to put things right - if they don't, they may face prosecution.

When the inspections were first introduced in 1993/4, inspectors struggled to meet deadlines. That year, only 36 per cent of high-risk premises - those selling meat and dairy products - were visited within the required time, and only 22 per cent of low-risk premises were seen.

Now all deadlines are being met for the first time since the programme of visits was introduced. The inspection team managed an average of 14 visits per working day.

Richard Wixey, environmental protection and waste management director, said: "I would like to thank officers for their dedication and hard work, improvements like these could not be achieved without their support."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment, said: "I would like to congratulate staff for their achievements. Food inspectors have a vital role to play in safeguarding the health of the community, and I am pleased that officers have been able to make year-on-year improvements to the service.

"They have achieved these results through reviewing and changing the way they work, and without any increase in the number of officers employed within the division."

High-risk premises have to be visited twice a year, others once a year, and very low risk businesses, such as newsagents selling sweets and canned drinks, once every five years.