RAT gnawed potatoes, rodent droppings and even tiny footprints in old fat, were some of the discoveries made by environmental health officers when they carried out an unannounced visit to a village chip shop.

The list of finds was read out to magistrates at Bury after Steve Ramsbottom, the owner of Steve's Fish and Chips in Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, pleaded guilty to four charges brought under food and safety legislation.

Ramsbottom, through his solicitor, said he had "no excuse" for letting his business fall into the state found during the surprise inspection. Prosecuting for Bury Council, Miss Julie Sou, described how, following a complaint, the non-programmed inspection was carried out in September of last year.

She described how the inspection team were immediately hit by a "strong" smell of urine as they entered a storaged cell beneath the shop.

The magistrates were told that potatoes, some in newly purchased sacks had teeth marks in them, rat droppings were found and in a tub of old fat there were even animal foot marks.

Daylight could be seen under the cellar door giving easy access for rodents and paw prints were found on a chest freezer.

She added: "In the shop where the cooking was done rat dropping were found as were food debris in the refrigerator." After the inspection Ramsbottom voluntarily agreed to shut down the premises, although Miss Sou said that would have been done anyway if he had not acted. The business was closed for a week and only re-opened once the environmental health staff were fully satisfied.

Defending, Mr Mark Taylor, said: "Can I say from the start that these matters are something that Mr Ramsbottom is not proud of.

"There is no excuse that he can put forward to the court as to why he let the premises get into the state that he did."

Ramsbottom, who took over the business from his father 15 years ago said that as a result of publicity following the closure of the shop his income had been hit.

In court he pleaded guilty to failing to ensure potatoes were stored in a hygienic way, failed to keep the premises clean and maintained, failed to take adequate procedures to control vermin and failed to ensure that fittings and equipment were fit to come into contact with food.

Ramsbottom was fined a total of £1,200 with £334.25 costs.

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