PILL Lunch Club has been awarded with a five star food hygiene rating following an "unexpected" inspection last month.

The club, which meets every Thursday at Pill Community Centre, was inspected on October 19.

Every week, volunteers cook for elderly people, who have the opportunity to enjoy a tasty meal and engage in conversation with old and new friends.

A 'very good' score was given in both the hygienic food handling category and the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building category.

Meanwhile, 'good' was given in the management of food safety section, which ensures that the food served is safe for customers to eat. The positive rating indicates that the inspection officer feels assured that standards will be maintained in the future.

A spokesperson from the club told the North Somerset Times: "Pill Lunch Club was unexpectantly inspected recently by the Environmental Health and were awarded five out of five.  

"The Pill Lunch Club has been in existence for many years - originally started by one of our local doctors who was concerned that there were many people who lived alone possibly elderly and perhaps not totally mobile so the lunch club was formed so they could socialise with other friends.

"We meet every Thursday, those who require transport are conveyed by volunteers to the Pill Community Centre. Members are offered a homecooked meal and pudding. The cost is £5.

"The club is run by Moira Worgan and her volunteer helpers.  We organise special days (this year a coach trip to Shepton Mallet and fish and chip lunch).  The Pill Junior School choir will come and sing just prior to Christmas and the Pill Owls will come on December 14 to entertain our members with carols.  

"This award of five stars we have achieved every year we have been inspected - this indicates the high standard of cleaning by Moira and her team."

A spokesperson from North Somerset Council added: "We visited Pill Lunch Club at the Community Centre on October 19 to carry out a routine inspection and we’re pleased to say it achieved a food hygiene ‘five’ rating which means ‘very good.’"