A FILTHY, mouse-infested takeaway has been shut by health officials.
One of those officials, Josie Brown, did a sudden check on the Taj Mahal in Blacker Road, Birkby, Huddersfield magistrates were told yesterday.
The shop sells curries, pizzas, burgers and kebabs.
The magistrates ordered that it stayed closed until it met acceptable standards.
They made an Emergency Prohibition Notice as the business was deemed a risk to human health.
The hearing was told that environmental health officer Ms Brown did the sudden check on Tuesday teatime.
She was shocked by what she found and called in colleague Louise Marshall.
Ms Marshall said: "There was evidence of severe mouse infestation and levels of hygiene and cleanliness were very poor.
"There was an imminent risk of mouse droppings on open food. Mice can carry very severe diseases."
She said two people were working in the takeaway at the time.
Owner Shahid Rashid was in Oldham and immediately travelled back to Huddersfield to meet the officers.
Mouse droppings were found along floor edges throughout the kitchen, in the back of a small freezer and on the base of the dough mixer.
Mouse droppings were also found in the living accommodation above the takeaway and in the basement.
Ms Marshall added: "There were very poor standards of cleanliness.
"The floor was covered with grease and food waste, as was the washbasin. Fat and grease had been poured down a drain in the rear yard and the extraction unit was covered in grease and was clogged.
"Aprons worn by the staff were dirty and heavily soiled."
The insect killer unit was full of flies.
Mr Rashid was not in court, but he is co-operating with environmental health officers to clean up the shop.
He now has to thoroughly clean the takeaway, use a reputable pest control company to deal with the mouse infestation and carry out any work needed to stop mice from getting back in.
The order will only be lifted when all this is done and environmental health officers have carried out a further inspection.
