Hospital food in Bradford has been given top marks by a team of inspectors.

The review of meals on offer at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital found patients were enjoying excellent quality food during their stay in hospital.

The accolade came as part of an assessment of the quality of environment offered to patients.

Watchdog body, the Patient Environment Action Team, evaluated various areas from patients' perspectives, scoring them between zero and four for the Department of Health.

The food available was given the top score of four by inspectors.

Patients can choose from a variety of main courses, accompaniments and sweets for their lunch or supper, and there are vegetarian, halal and high calorie choices.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospitals, operates the national Better Food Programme which was introduced by the Government last year.

The programme includes a national menu devised by TV food critic Lloyd Grossman, as well as snacks, chef's dishes and light bites. As well as being praised for the food, the amount of privacy and dignity given to patients at both the Bradford hospitals also received the top score.

Overall, the team found the trust was very good at providing a high quality environment for patients.

The hospitals were commended for their good signposting, bright and uncluttered corridors and clinical areas with helpful and organised support staff.

Philip Turner, the trust's operations director for non-clinical support services, said: "We are delighted that this review showed that we offer a very good patient environment and that we have made improvements from last year.

"It is the hard work of staff throughout the trust which allows us to offer such high quality facilities and services.

"We hope, with their commitment, to continue and develop the patient environment even further in the future."

The review is part of a wider assessment of the hospitals to decide if the trust will retain its three star status this year.