Walsall restaurant shut as mice droppings found

Walsall Council's environmental health officers closed Sofia's Italian restaurant at the Guildhall last Thursday following a routine inspection.

Mice droppings were found behind a fridge, under work preparation areas, beneath an oven and in a wash-up area at the restaurant in High Street, Walsall Magistrates Court was told yesterday.

An order forcing the restaurant to close until further notice was served on operator A&A Global (UK) Ltd last week. Mrs Kerry Munro, prosecuting on behalf of Walsall Council, was yesterday granted a hygiene emergency prohibition order after making an application to magistrates.

The court heard that environmental health officers had reinspected the premises yesterday morning, before the hearing, and decided it could reopen, but a formal application was required under law after the closure order was served.

Addressing magistrates, Mrs Munro said: "The reason for the application is because there was presence of mice activity and that activity posed an imminent risk of injury to health."

Environmental health officer Katheryn Northway gave evidence during the hearing to tell magistrates that she had carried out a thorough inspection of the premises last Thursday.

She said: "By examining the kitchen, there were mice droppings behind the fridge, under work preparation areas, under the oven and in the wash-up area.

"I found mouse droppings on the floor throughout the entire kitchen area." She said mice can carry many infectious diseases, such as salmonella and e.coli, and can damage food stocks and premises.

Ms Northway said she revisited the restaurant yesterday morning after it had been 'deep-cleaned' and a pest control company had carried out 'substantial treatment' over the weekend.

She said that one mouse had been caught.

Giovanni Miro, manager at Sofia's, said: "It's unfortunate but we are open now. Everything is fine. It was very minor. There's been a lot of building works around the area."