Peony Chinese in Meadow Street, Deepdale, Preston, was closed for three days following the grim discovery at the rear of the kitchen and in the basement where food was being stored.

The council inspector also found poor temperature control of food and poor food handling practices.

It was given the all-clear to re-open following a clean-up operation.
Simon Neighbour, environmental health manager at Preston Council, said: "When we re-open a premises that means the significant and imminent risk has gone but it doesn't mean it's a five-star premises - it just means they're not likely to poison somebody."

Peng Tu Qiu, food business operator, was in charge of the premises when the inspection was carried out. He was unavailable for comment.

Environmental health chiefs had awarded the takeaway two out of a possible five stars for hygiene, prior to the latest inspection on Tuesday June 23.

Inspectors said: "Standards at Peony Chinese were generally low. More effort was required to prevent a further fall in standards."

It is the latest in a string of Preston restaurants and takeaways to be rapped for hygiene issues.

Last month, the co-owners of Raja's Pizza Bar in Manchester Road were fined after pleading guilty to five food hygiene offences at Preston Crown Court.

And, just days earlier, Chinese buffet restaurant Centro, on the corner of Ringway and Friargate, was closed down due to a mouse infestation. It re-opened a couple of days later.

Mr Neighbour said his team was paying extra attention to repeat offenders and added: "We're actively picking out those who haven't done so well previously.
"It seems entirely fair that, when we've got so many businesses doing well, those are the ones we're spending less time with.

"We're going back to the worst ones more frequently and picking them up every time.

"Whilst we want a thriving business community in Preston, our first priority is for public health."

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