THE owner of a take-away in Grappenhall has been prosecuted for breaching food hygiene.

Warrington Borough Council's environmental health team successfully prosecuted Mohammed Uddin as the owner of the Grappenhall Indian Gourmet, on Knutsford Road, at Warrington Magistrates' Court on February 6.

Uddin was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £800 costs for three offences of failing to comply with hygiene improvement notices and four offences of failing to maintain the structure of the premises in a clean state and in good repair.

He was also found guilty of having unfit food - mouldy lemons - on the premises in breach of the general food regulations.

Peter Astley, trading standards and food hygiene manager for the council, said: "Poor food hygiene is a serious issue as it increases the potential for customers to contract food-borne illness.

"We find that most food businesses within the borough work very closely with environmental health officers to achieve acceptable food standards.

"Those who do not must realise that we will take action to achieve compliance so that we can safeguard public health."