THE owner of a Chinese restaurant in Stourport has been fined more than £1,000 following the discovery of an infestation of rats and mice.

Chi Kin Lam, who owns Canaan Chinese Takeaway in York Street, appeared before Kidderminster Magistrates on Friday (February 9) where he pleaded guilty to five breaches of food hygiene legislation.

Issues were discovered at Canaan during a routine inspection by Worcestershire Regulatory Services towards the end of March 2017.

Nina Dorrell, prosecuting on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council, told the court that inspectors found a dead rat and evidence of a rat and mice infestation including droppings and equipment which had been gnawed at.

The premises were also dirty and in a poor state of repair.

Inspectors immediately closed the business in the interests of public safety and only reopened in early April after Lam had undertaken all the remedial works required and they were satisfied there was no longer an imminent health risk.

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 on July 26 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.