A CHINESE restaurant has been shut down after inspectors found rat and mouse droppings and an insect infestation at the establishment.

Poor standards of cleanliness lead Environmental Health officers to close A Bite of China restaurant, off Borough Road, Middlesbrough, after finding evidence that posed a serious risk to food safety.

A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served by the officers making the inspection last week, requiring the eatery to be closed on Friday following a court order granted by Teesside magistrates.

The order requires the restaurant, which specialises in “authentic Chinese cuisine”, to remain closed until Environmental Health Officers carry out a further hygiene assessment to ensure there is no longer a serious health risk.

Judith Hedgley, Middlesbrough Council’s head of public protection, said: “The poor conditions in this food business presented an imminent risk of injury to health and therefore it would be unacceptable to allow the restaurant to remain open.

“Teesside Magistrates accepted that health-risk conditions existed when Environmental Health Officers visited the premises and granted a Court Order to stop the restaurant re-opening.

“Once the owner has carried out all necessary works to bring the restaurant up to standard we will accept an application to reassess the business.

“Following assessment, if officers are satisfied that conditions are hygienic the restaurant will be allowed to re-open.

“An investigation will now be carried out to determine if further enforcement action is to be taken.”

Around 600 food hygiene inspections are carried out by Environmental Health officers every year, with more than 97 per cent of food businesses in Middlesbrough achieving a hygiene rating of good to very good.