Hartshead Moor East M62 services ranked worst in Britain

The Hartshead Moor service station on the M62 is operated by the Welcome Break group

A motorway service station in West Yorkshire has been ranked the worst in Britain for the second year in a row.

Hartshead Moor East, on the M62 near Huddersfield, is the least popular motorway services out of 120 examined, according to watchdog Transport Focus.

Despite the result, there was "every reason" to expect a better result next year, the organisation added.

Owners of the site, Welcome Break, said they were "disappointed" by the rating, but "proud" of recent improvements.

In the survey of more than 30,000 service station visitors, Hartshead Moor East received an overall satisfaction rating of 84%.

'Improved position'

Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users, said in its report that during the survey period between May and July, work for new toilet facilities was still under way at the service station, meaning portable toilets were in place there for some of the time.

The report added: "Despite the building works, the site's overall satisfaction score has improved by four percentage points, which suggests there is every reason to expect an improved position in next year's survey."

A spokeswoman for Welcome Break confirmed the new facilities had since opened and a "considerable improvement in scores" was expected in next year's survey.

"We are disappointed to see Hartshead Moor at the bottom of the list, but are incredibly proud of the improvements that Welcome Break has made since last year," she added.

The joint-second worst services were Bridgwater, on the M5 in Somerset, Hartshead Moor West, Lancaster South, on the M6 in Lancashire and Toddington North and South, which are both on the M1 in Bedfordshire.

They each received a satisfaction score of 88%.

At the top of the table for satisfaction was Moto's Rugby services on the M6 in Warwickshire for a second consecutive year.

It was the only location to score 100% after being rated highly for its food and drink, toilets and friendly staff.