The ‘Scores on the Doors’ system is one of those ideas that is so simple and yet so useful.

Of course, there have long been hygiene inspections carried out on restaurants, takeaways and the like.

And while newspapers such as the Telegraph & Argus have rightly highlighted any issues arising from these, that was pretty much the extent of public access to the information.

Scores on the Doors, however, allows people to see the number of stars awarded to establishments inspected.

It is more than likely that this public access element is helping drive up overall standards, as no-one will want to get a poor mark which can be viewed by anyone with internet access.

It also allows the public to make informed choices based on the findings of the inspectors – which seems only fair as public money is paying their wages.

Restaurants and takeaways getting good marks will presumably reap the rewards in extra custom, and some even use their scores to promote their business – only fair, considering the efforts they put in and further incentive for everyone to do things right.

Perhaps the next step should be making it compulsory for establishments to display their score actually on their front door. That would really make any slackers pull up their socks.