CHICKEN pieces sold from the Spar shop in Whalley smelled, were discoloured and wet and had green slime on them, Blackburn magistrates heard.

Environmental health officers found the chicken to be five days past its sell-by date.

The owners of the Spar supermarket on George Street, Whalley, Jonathon Fenton, 50, and his wife Brenda, 53, pleaded guilty to contravening food labelling regulations and selling food not of the quality demanded. They were each fined £750 with £50 costs.

Diana Rice, prosecuting for Ribble Valley Borough Council, said the chicken pieces had been purchased by a Mrs Proctor on October 7, when their sell-by date was October 2.

"The chicken was subsequently examined and while it was not unfit for consumption it would not have been pleasant," said Miss Rice. John Houldsworth, defending, said his clients were horrified to be appearing before the court.

He said the shop had been in Mr Fenton's family for 75 years and he and his wife had run it for the past 30 years.

"It is a shop that is highly thought of," said Mr Houldsworth. "Mr and Mrs Fenton are very conscious of the food hygiene regulations and the butcher they employ has 40 years' experience."

He said that as soon as the complaint was made Mrs Fenton had gone to the complainant's home and the purchase price was repaid within the hour.

"The cold store and all the refrigerated display cabinets were tested and these were all within the required standard," said Mr Houldsworth.

"For some reason, three pieces of raw chicken got through the net and have spoiled what was an otherwise excellent reputation."

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