A rat crawled through a disused toilet into the store room of Bangladeshi restaurant that had been repeatedly warned, fined and then temporarily closed over food hygiene offences.

The owners of Sadiqah’s Spice in South Street, Epsom, were told that “major improvement was necessary” following an inspection by environmental health officers from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council last month.

Inspectors were also worried that a disused toilet, “boxed in with crude and dirty plywood” in the restaurant’s store room might harbour other rodents.

The restaurant had been fined £4,500 in March of this year after admitting food safety and hygiene offences.

Environmental health officers from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council later closed the restaurant to protect potential customers.

Redhill Magistrates’ Court confirmed the council’s decision to close the restaurant on Tuesday, September 6. It was re-opened three days later.

The restaurant was also ordered to pay £1,652 in costs to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

Surrey Comet:

In documents obtained by the Epsom Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the council’s restaurant inspectors found a live rat during the restaurant’s most recent review, which was carried out on August 19. Oliver Nelson, the environmental health team leader at the council, wrote: “There was evidence that access had been via an old redundant toilet which had not been properly capped off.”

In March, the company admitted three charges of failing to implement a safe food management system, adequately store or dispose waste, and prevent cross contamination of food.

For each charge, Sadiqah’s Spice was fined £1,500. It was also ordered to pay costs of £400 and a £120 victim surcharge.

Surrey Comet:

A council spokesman said: “Our environmental health officers regularly inspect the food outlets in Epsom and Ewell, including all restaurants, takeaways and pubs. This is to check their hygiene standards meet legal requirements. We will not hesitate to take action when there is a risk to public health.

“When inspecting the business, the officer will look at how hygienically the food is handled, the cleanliness of the premises, and what the business does to ensure that the standards will be maintained.”

the Epsom Guardian has been unable to contact Sadiqah's Spice for comment.

To check the food hygiene ratings of establishments in Epsom and Ewell borough, visit http://ratings.food.gov.uk