Cannock takeaway owners fined over mice infestation

Owners of a village takeaway must pay almost £8,500 after mice were found there.

Food safety officers closed The Pizza Stop, Huntington, Cannock, last year after a customer said rodents were behind the service area.

Owners failed to improve standards when allowed to open again, leading to the fine at Stafford Magistrates Court this week.

Sajid Hussain, aged 43, of Corporation Street, and Abdul Hamid, business manager, 44 of Broadway West, both Walsall, admitted failing to comply with food regulations and were each fined £2,400 each and told to pay £1,764 each towards council's costs.

South Staffordshire Council found out-of-date food, poor standards of cleanliness, no hand washing facilities and staff not in protective clothing.

Officers took immediate action after a diner's complaint in March 2010.

After an inspection they decided the Stafford Road takeaway was an imminent health risk and closed it.

Equipment used in preparing food was at risk of contamination with mouse droppings and food storage was also poor, they said.

The store was allowed to re-open four days later after a second inspection. Miss Venice Archer-Dyer, for the council, said that in further visits over eight months, officers served hygiene improvement notices.