BUTCHER Peter Hanley is a cut above the rest when it comes to food hygiene.

Mr Hanley, 57, who has run Cotswold Prime Meats, in Barnard Parade, Stonehouse for 14 years, received five stars - the maximum number available - in the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

He is particularly pleased with the rating because the store narrowly missed out on the top accolade 18 months ago.

"The health people just show up unexpectedly and I only got four stars last time because I didn't have a piece of paperwork on hand to show them," said Mr Hanley, who has lived in Bowbridge, Stroud for 24 years.

"I was so annoyed with myself and was determined not to make the same mistake again and let the five stars slip between my fingers."

Recently, a Stroud District Council health inspector showed up again for another inspection and Mr Hanley was given the chance to prove that his shop was in fact five star material.

"The health inspector told me at the time that she was going to mark me down with a five, at first I wasn't sure if I had heard it right," said Mr Hanley, a father of four.

"People who get five are far and few between so it is absolutely great to now be one of them."

Between July, 2012 and January this year, only 52 out of 150 premises inspected in the Stroud area were awarded five stars in the Food Standards Agency rating scheme, which is implemented by Stroud District Council.

"I'm glad I can now hang those five stars on the shop wall with pride," said Mr Hanley who used to manage Bainbridge's Butchers in Stroud.

Stroud District Council posts all the food hygiene scores for businesses in the area at www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk