A Chinese restaurant in Stourport has been fined more than £1,000 by magistrates after the discovery of an infestation of mice and rats.

Mr Chi Kin Lam, owner of the Canaan restaurant in York Street, Stourport appeared before Kidderminster magistrates on Friday 9 February 2018. He pleaded guilty to five breaches of food hygiene legislation.

Prosecuting on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council, Nina Dorrell told the court  that during one of their routine food hygiene inspections at the end of  March 2017 inspectors from Worcestershire Regulatory Services found the premises dirty and in a poor state of repair. In addition they found evidence of a rat and mice infestation, including droppings, equipment which had been gnawed and a dead rat.

The inspectors immediately closed the business in the interests of public safety and to give the owner the opportunity to address all of the issues identified.

Mr Lam undertook all the necessary works to eradicate the issues identified  and the inspectors, once satisfied there was no longer an imminent health risk,  allowed the premises to be reopened in early April 2017.

Mr Lam was fined a total of £1,175 and was also ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge and costs of £2339.19.

Councillor Juliet Smith, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Community Protection said:

“All food businesses in the district are included in a regular inspection programme which is designed to make sure they all operate to a good  standard, and firms that don’t comply with these strict standards will be prosecuted. We want our food businesses to thrive and officers work closely with premises to make sure they achieve the necessary standards required to operate safely.”

A follow up inspection was carried out at the premises on 26 July 2017 at which point the environmental health officers  awarded the restaurant  a Food Hygiene rating of four out of five. Members of staff have also received formal food hygiene training since the event.

More information about food safety and hygiene is available from food section of Worcestesrhire Regulatory Services website www.worcsregservices.gov.uk/foodhealth