DIRTY and unhygienic conditions have landed bosses of two Black Country food businesses with a combined court bill of more than £9,000.

Investigations by environment health officers uncovered a series of hygiene failings at both Pedro’s Indian Cuisine in Market Street, Kingswinford, and New Chicken Hut in High Street, Brierley Hill.

Dudley Council led the prosecution against the businesses, which both received a hygiene rating of zero from their initial inspections.

During an inspection at the Kingswinford restaurant in August last year, inspectors found a dead rat in the side alleyway and also discovered rat droppings under a sink, while the floor and walls of the restaurant were dirty and mouldy.

Dirty food storage containers and rotting coriander and cauliflower was found in a refrigerator, and staff had not been trained in food hygiene and an adequate food safety management system had not been implemented.

At a recent hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court, owners Pedro’s Fine Eatery Ltd pleaded guilty to eight offences under food hygiene and safety regulations.

They were fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,216 and £120 victim surcharge.

In a separate case, council inspectors visited the Brierley Hill takeaway in July last year, and found dirty floors, walls, wash hand basins and fridges.

They also discovered damaged equipment, including a frying basket and chopping boards and their staff had also not been trained and an adequate food safety management system had not been implemented.

The takeaway’s boss, Naeem Khan, pleaded guilty at Dudley Magistrates Court to seven offences under food hygiene and safety regulations, with the 46-year-old fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £1,750 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Both businesses have since received satisfactory hygiene ratings of three out of five.

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member responsible for health and wellbeing, said: “We much prefer to work with businesses to secure compliance with the law, but we will not hesitate to take legal action against the minority of food business proprietors who do not take our advice on board and who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.

“Nearly half of all food outlets in the borough are achieving the top hygiene rating of five and the vast majority achieve a satisfactory rating of three or more.

“I would urge consumers to check out hygiene ratings online as these will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop.”

Dudley Council environmental health officers carry out regular inspections of food premises in the borough to advise food business owners and ensure they meet all food safety and hygiene requirements.

Hygiene ratings for businesses across the borough can be found at www.dudley.gov.uk/foodsafety