An eatery in Middlesbrough has been shut down by officials with jobs in environmental health following the discovery of a cockroach infestation.
Emergency action was taken to close Lewis's Bistro on Linthorpe Road after a visit to the premises by local environmental health officers on Monday (December 27th), the Evening Gazette reports.
Teesside magistrates granted the council a hygiene emergency prohibition order, which means the restaurant will remain closed until the owner can prove that it no longer presents a public health risk.
Wayne Flowers, the local authority's principal environmental health officer, told the newspaper that the discovery of cockroaches in any food business is "unacceptable".
He added: "Cockroach infestations are extremely rare but in this case it was necessary to close the food business."
Mr Flowers said the council is committed to taking "decisive action" against restaurants and other food outlets when their conditions pose a risk to the health and safety of diners in Middlesbrough.
People with jobs in environmental health were called in to a Blackpool hotel earlier this month after several guests were struck down by the Norovirus, according to the Blackpool Gazette.
Posted by Marc Casey
