A Chinese takeaway was told to keep squeaky clean after a mouse’s corpse was found in a deathbed of grime near food prepared for customers.

Merton Council prosecuted the owner of Xu Sheng at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 28, after a string of food hygiene offences.

The takeaway was closed down on the spot during a routine inspection by trading standards.

Officers found a dead mouse under shelves containing food in a store room.

Mouse droppings were also found throughout the premises and there was no hot water or soap for staff to wash their hands.

The owner, Ping Zhang, was told he was not allowed to re-open until pest control measures had been put in place, contaminated food had been destroyed and the restaurant was disinfected.

Despite such serious offences attracting fines of up to £5,000, the court fined Mr Zhang £250 and ordered him to pay nearly £1,000 for the council’s legal costs.

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, said: “Our environmental health officers do their utmost to work with food businesses and restaurants to avoid closure where possible.

“However, we have a duty to our residents to put their needs first and will not tolerate standards anything less than excellent when it comes to the public’s health.

“We will continue to ensure that, if restaurants and takeaways want to stay open in Merton, they will have to meet the highest hygiene standards.”

Mr Zhang was contacted but a restaurant worker said he was not available for comment.

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