Curry and mice restaurant fine

AN award-winning Westwood restaurant which was found to be infested with mice has been hit with a £1,200 fine.

Salikur Rahman, owner of Prithiraj in Featherstall Road North, must also pay £1,850 costs after environmental health officers made the grim discovery during a search in December, 2008.

Inspectors also slammed Rahman for failing to provide appropriate handwashing facilities for staff.

In October, 2005, Prithiraj qualified for a Heartbeat Award — a scheme run by the council to reward food premises that have high standards of food safety.

The highly-regarded restaurant, which opened in August, 2005, also won top prize at last year’s Curry Chef Awards.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure said: “This is particularly saddening as the Prithiraj held a coveted Council Heartbeat award presented for healthy food choices and high standards of hygiene.

“Oldham Council’s environmental health service does its utmost to work with businesses and it is always disappointing when standards fall — however our priority has to be to the safety of our citizens.”