Two restaurants were closed on the same day after mouse droppings were found on cooked food.
In the Taha Palace, in Conduit Street, Leicester, droppings were even found on cooked poppadoms ready to be served, root ginger and an ice cube tray waiting to be filled with water.
There was also no running hot water at restaurant, so staff could not clean surfaces or their hands properly.
At the Chinese Cuisine, in Gamel Road, Evington, mouse droppings were found on the floor and surfaces.
Following routine inspections by city council environmental health officers, the two restaurants were served with "hygiene emergency prohibition" notices on Thursday January 10.
Yesterday, a hearing at Leicester magistrates' court approved both notices.
The premises of the Taha Palace had been closed once before, when it had a different owner and name.
Environmental health officer Su Clemen said Taha Palace owner Abdul Razak had not returned phone calls and had since "vanished into the ether".
Mr Razak's phone has since been disconnected and no inspectors have visited the building since it was closed.
Ms Clemen said: "When we visited, there was a fully-operational bar where they had knocked holes in the ceiling - this would allow mice through the restaurant. It also meant they were operating without a licence."
Officers will now be visiting the restaurant every evening until Mr Razak is traced and they are able to gain access to the building.
In his absence, the magistrates ordered Mr Razak to pay the council's court costs of £852.64.
The Chinese Cuisine was inspected by city environmental health officer Chris Ashwood, who visited the restaurant yesterday morning.
He said: "There were still some mouse droppings in the kitchen and in the preparation room, we believe they were new droppings. Mouse activity is still going on, but the owner had made strides to clean the building."
Speaking through an interpreter, the owner, Guo Jin Lin, said he had only taken over the restaurant in December and that he would improve things by cleaning up "the big mess".
He admitted it was his fault and that he had never cleaned properly. Mr Lin was ordered to pay £751.91 in costs and was told his restaurant would remain closed until officers were satisfied it could re-open.作者: supercat 时间: 2008-1-15 13:23