A PIZZA restaurant which was the target of a petrol bomb attack earlier this year has been closed on health grounds.

Luisianos Pizza Parlour, in Roseberry Square, Redcar, had an emergency prohibition notice served on it after environmental health officers found rat droppings, no running water and a lack of routine cleaning.

Health officers visited the parlour after Northumbria Water informed Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council that the water supply to the building had been disconnected.

Wayne Flowers, the council's principal environmental health officer, said: "Emergency closure action is only taken in exceptional circumstances where there is an imminent risk to health.

"Our first priority is to protect the consumer and we will not hesitate to take such action to ensure this."

Teesside magistrates have confirmed the notice and have issued an emergency prohibition order requiring the premises to remain closed until the owner applies for the order to be lifted.

The parlour was Iraqi-run when a petrol bomb was thrown through its window in March as staff served pizzas.