A FILTHY take-away has been shut down after mice droppings were found on pizza boxes.
Environmental Health Officers visited Pizza Pazza on Albert Road in Middlesbrough on Saturday evening and saw a member of staff smoking in the kitchen.
The officers from Middlesbrough Council's Community Protection Service also discovered a serious mouse infestation and filthy conditions.
A food hygiene inspection was then carried out and a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice served to close the business immediately.
Wayne Flowers, Principal Environmental Health Officer, who inspected- the premises, said: "Mouse droppings were found in all food rooms on pizza boxes, on and around food equipment and in the staff toilet.
"The extent of the mouse infestation and the very poor standards of cleanliness were a risk to health."
The council will be applying to Teesside Magistrates Court for a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order forbidding the premises to re-open until all the health risks have been removed.
Pizza Pazza is the second takeaway to be closed by the council in a week.
The Spring Orchid in Thorntree was condemned last Tuesday after similar hygiene problems were found by environmental health officers on a routine visit.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here