A TAKEAWAY boss in Burnley has been fined £750 following a raid by food hygiene watchdog found his kitchen was caked in grime.

Environmental health officers found mouldy basement walls and a dirty fridge, among a host of infringements at the Lal Qila eaterie, Burnley magistrates heard.

Shahid Hussain, who runs the Parker Lane takeaway, pleaded guilty to 10 food hygiene offences and was fined £750 with £250 court costs.

Hussain had initially been warned about the state of his kitchen after a visit by Burnley council officers in December.

He was served with an improvement notice, highlighting which areas of concern needed to be addressed, the following January.

But when inspectors returned in February but Hussain failed to comply with the warning, the court heard.

The inspectors found damaged and missing floor tiles, exposing dirty and stained concrete, mouldy basement walls, with flaking paint and plaster, and a mouldy and flaking basement ceiling.

The dirty fridge, which contained pizza toppings, was splattered with grease and food spillages, the court was told.

Staff were unaware of basic food hygiene issues. like hand-washing, and had a lack of understanding of temperature controls and the cross-contamination of foodstuffs Pat Harris, a council food safety officer, said: “The defendant was given an opportunity to make the necessary improvements but failed to do so.

“It’s unacceptable for a business that provides food to the public not to meet food hygiene standards.

“The health of the public is the top priority in cases like this, where there was a risk of serious illness to the public.”

The prosecution is the latest blow for the Parker Lane takeaway following a raid by immigration officials there last June.

Two Pakistani employees were detained by UK Border Agency workers and are facing deportation proceedings.

Mr Hussain, like any takeaway or restauant owner caught in similar circumstances, could face a fine of up to £10,000 for the offence.