The manager of a tea hut, which was the subject of a successful community campaign to keep it in family hands, said he is “over the moon” after being awarded a four-star hygiene rating following previous failings.

Bradley Melton, 33, achieved the four out of five rating for the Hill Wood forest hut, which has been in his family for 84 years.

The inspection resulted in the business's rating inrease by two grades after it was previously told it needed improvements in July 2013.

Mr Melton was awarded the contract to continue running the hut after it was put out to tender by the City of London Corporation in June.

A petition calling for the hut to remain under its current ownership attracted 9,000 signatures and received backing from Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing.

Mr Melton said the improved rating was achieved by introducing regular cleaning schedules and replacing china with paper cups.

Plans to introduce a larger hut, running water and a toilet should see the business achieve a five-star rating on its next inspection, he said.

“I was absolutely over the moon when I was told we had achieved four stars," Mr Melton said.

“Being a hut which is located in a car park in the forest at this time of year particularly it gets a little muddy.

“We upped the standard cleaning plans and monthly cleans became weekly and weekly cleans became every three days.

“It’s such great news and with the successful tender bid too it’s shaping a good year.”