LEGAL action will not be taken against a Ribble Valley food outlet at the centre of an E.coli investigation because of a lack of evidence, say environmental health bosses.

Three of six cases in the July outbreak were linked to the premises, triggering an investigation by council health chiefs.

But a statement from Ribble Valley chief executive David Morris today said that despite extensive investigations, the infective organism was not found in any of the food or environmental samples taken in and around the premises, which both the council and East Lancashire Health Authority have always refused to identify.

The statement said: "The infection by this organism can occur through a number of possible routes other than by direct transmission through food, e.g. by person to person spread, contact with farm animals and contamination of the environment.

"Therefore it has now been decided that there is insufficient evidence to pursue formal action for offences under food safety legislation." The statement added that during inquiries the food outlet was closed voluntarily for five days by the owner as a precaution at the beginning of the incident.

All measures requested by the council were implemented at the premises.

Mr Morris said he had written to the three people who suffered illness, explaining that no further action would be taken by the council.

Council environmental health manager James Russell, who led the investigation, said: "We have no evidence even to take a case. We have taken this matter apart very thoroughly and found no conclusive evidence at the end of the day and we cannot name the premises involved."

No spokesman was available at East Lancashire Health Authority today.

The owner of the food outlet understood to be at the centre of the inquiry said: "I have absolutely no comment to make."

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