A COURT has ordered the closure of a "filthy" North-East takeaway, after it failed a hygiene inspection.

Happiness Kingdom, in Darlington, will only be allowed to reopen after it has resolved hygiene issues identified by officers from Darlington Borough Council, at an inspection earlier this week.

Owner Shaui Fu was not present for Thursday's hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court.

The bench agreed to make an emergency prohibition order (EPO) in respect of the takeaway, in Bondgate.

A notice of the order, posted in the window of the takeaway, states: "The premises are in a very poor structural condition and there is a lack of effective cleaning and maintenance equipment, resulting in a significant risk of food contamination."

Council solicitor Helen Thompson told magistrates the state of the takeaway's equipment posed "an imminent risk of temporary or permanent injury to health".

She added: "Mr Fu was contacted and confirmed that he knew about the application, but he would not be attending court.

"On Tuesday (November 10), environmental health officer Brian Whelan attended to carry out an inspection and found the premises in a serious state of disrepair.

"The equipment and surfaces were filthy."

Miss Thompson said earlier inspections had been carried out at the premises this year – one in June, which resulted in a food hygiene rating of two out of five stars.

A subsequent inspection, last month, resulted in the business being closed voluntarily by Mr Fu.

It was following the re-inspection, earlier this week, that environmental health officers decided further action was needed.

Mr Whelan told magistrates a prosecution of Mr Fu was likely and the council may even seek to have him banned from operating a food business altogether.

He said the EPO would remain in force until a further inspection has been carried out and the premises brought up to an acceptable standard

The business, which currently has a food hygiene rating of zero, offered Thai, Chinese and English meals to take away.