THE owner of a Oxford city centre cafe has vowed to turn around the business after it was given food hygiene rating of one.

Oxford City Council said their were "several high risk dishes" and "no procedures in place to reduce the risk of contamination" after visiting St Giles' Cafe, in St Giles' on January 8.

The basement of the premises was also flooded after heavy rain led to the sewers overflowing directly outside the window.

Owner Henrik Anderson admitted he was caught on the back foot when the Oxford City Council inspection team arrived just a couple of months after he took over the cafe on November 16 last year.

Mr Anderson said: "It's a great place, and getting back on track is my soul responsibility and we have already started making changes.

"From speaking to people there is a lot of history to this place and it's in a lovely location.

"I took over this as a rolling business so I basically got the keys on Sunday and was expected to be open Monday morning.

"I admit that I was caught on the back foot, but there were no management processes in place when I arrived and it takes time."

The 38-year-old Summertown resident, who has been in the restaurant business for 20 years, claims the lack of hygiene measures and management processes before he took over made it very difficult for him to turn it around in the first two months of opening.

He added: "I know they need to be in place so in my defence all the legislation should have been here.

"But because I could not close the cafe, we have been working gradually to put things right."

The inspection revealed there were no procedures and controls in place to reduce the risk of contamination and to ensure foods were prepared and cooked safely.

The report added: "At the time of inspection there was no written food safety management system or records to demonstrate the controls you have in place to ensure food safety.

"There were no records in place to demonstrate that staff had been trained in food hygiene."

Mr Anderson said he would continue sorting out the hygiene issues and would then apply for a reinspection in the coming months.

He added: "I know what I'm doing and I haven't taken a day off since November 16.

"I'm going to make it better. Thames Water have come out and are dealing with the sewer outside the basement.

"They have jet washed the whole thing.

"I'm also getting better produce, and cleaner food. The place had about 200 people come through on Saturday so it gets busy."