A SECOND food business in a month has been closed by Doncaster Council because of infestation by mice.
Doncaster Council obtained a hygiene emergency prohibition order against Saijad Akhtar, who runs General Store and Off Licence, on the corner of Carr House Road and Chequer Road, Hyde Park.
It was the second order of the kind the council has issue
d in just weeks and follows an order against Pizza Hut on High Street in July.
Environmental health officers warned there was an immediate risk of "injury to health" from the infestation at the shop on Carr House Road.
Doncaster magistrates granted the prohibition order and ordered £750 costs to be paid to Doncaster Council.
The premises will only be allowed to open again after the satisfactory completion of a programme of work ordered by the authority.
A notice has been taped to the metal shutters which have been pulled down over the door, notifying visitors of the closure.
Environmental health officer Michael Griffiths said on the notice he was satisfied there was a health risk in relation to a butchers' area at the back of the building, the shop, the cellar and the storage rooms on the first and second floors.
He said: "There is an active mouse infestation throughout the entire premises and there is a risk of contamination from droppings and urine."
Deputy Mayor of Doncaster Stuart Exelby said: "This is the second food business to be formally closed by Doncaster Council within a month. Protecting public health is a key priority and we aim to make businesses aware of how they must comply with their statutory duties.
"However we have no hesitation in taking legal action and closing premises immediately where an imminent risk to health exists."
No one was answering the door or the phones at the shop yesterday.
Last month magistrates ordered High Street's Pizza Hut restaurant to close for six days after council officers found mice on the premises. They ordered the restaurant to pay £590 in costs.
After the mice were found, council officers helped the restaurant tackle the problem and allowed it to reopen once they were satisfied the infestation had been eradicated.
A Pizza Hut spokesperson said: "With over 700 restaurants in the UK we have stringent hygiene and cleanliness procedures.
"As soon as we were made aware of this incident we took immediate action and worked closely with local authorities to ensure our strict standards were restored. This restaurant has since been sold and no longer has any connection with Pizza Hut."
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