A fast food takeaway in Huddersfield has been shut down under an emergency court order.
The enforcement notice was served on The Chunky Steak House in Manchester Road, Huddersfield, after magistrates were told it was found to be littered with mouse droppings when an environmental health officer called to check.
The takeaway serves pizzas, burgers, kebabs and fried chicken.
Kirklees’ Magistrates Court were told the Chunky Steak House which promises “The Thrill of the Grill” was visited by Kirklees officer James Kaye on Tuesday morning.
He explained to the bench that it was a “routine hygiene inspection.”
He said: “As soon as I entered the premises I made my presence known to the manager. I found a poor level of cleanliness and evidence of mouse droppings.”
Photographs of what he discovered were handed to the bench.
Mr Kaye said the presence of mouse droppings was of concern because they were known to carry Salmonella and Listeria.
The bench agreed to the emergency application for an emergency prohibition order which means the premises cannot reopen until the management has carried out work to comply with hygiene regulations.
After the hearing, which was not attended by the steak house’s owner, Mudashar Ali Sundhu, Mr Kaye said: “He needs to get rid of the health risk, ie the mouse droppings etc and clean it rigorously before it can be reopened.
“I understand he has employed contractors to do that.
“He is taking steps to implement what we have asked him to do.
“I will be going down and placing the closure order on the door and seeing how he is getting on with the cleaning.”
A Kirklees Council spokesman said after the case: “This food establishment must remain closed until the health risk has gone. This case underlines the importance of cleaning and structural maintenance of a food business. If the operator of the business had contacted the council prior to opening as required under law, then this incident may have been prevented.”
