An Indian restaurant has been accused of misleading diners about the levels of hygiene inside.

The Cinnamon Tree, in Halstead’s High Street is displaying a hygiene rating of four – which represents good levels of hygiene – when its actual rating is two, which means its level of hygiene requires improvement.

The restaurant was previously given a four out of five rating until Braintree Council carried out an inspection at the premises.

The inspector raised concerns and dropped the level ordering the business to take action.

One customer said: “I’ve been going there for years now but if you’re a customer, you want to know the rating. I spend a lot of money there and should be honestly told these things.

“Customers are getting fobbed off.

“I cancelled a Christmas booking when I found out it was actually given a two-star rating.

“They’ve had over a month to sort it and should remove the certificate.”

A spokesman for Braintree Council stated it is not mandatory to display a rating but if the restaurant does it should not be the wrong one.

A spokesman said: “The rating is based on scores allocated for the areas of hygiene, structure and confidence in management following the food hygiene inspection.”

The inspector reported the cleanliness and condition of facilities in the building category required improvement. Hygenic food handling and management of food safety were both rated as good.

The spokesman for the council added: “We have been in touch with the owner since the inspection and they are confident all structural matters have either been remedied since the inspection, or works are in hand to be completed by next week.”

Despite repeated requests nobody from the restaurant was able to provide a comment on the falling standards, what was being done to raise the level of hygiene again, what improvements were being made and why the incorrect rating was still being displayed and when this would be amended or removed by the restaurant.