A local Service Station has been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs for breaching food hygiene regulations.

Rozina Limited which managed the Jet Service Station on Ely Road, Witcham Toll pleaded guilty to eight breaches of food hygiene regulations last week at Cambridge Magistrates.

The case followed a customer complainant which was investigated by the Environmental Health Team at East Cambridgeshire District Council.

A number of food safety contraventions were discovered including:

• Placing food on the market that was unsafe - namely crisps, confectionary and peanuts due to contamination with mouse droppings and urine
• Failure to ensure that adequate procedures were in place to control pests
• Failure to keep a food premises clean
• Failure of the design and construction of food premises to permit good food hygiene practices

At the hearing on Thursday 19 February, the Director of Rozina Limited pleaded guilty to all eight offences against the company.

Liz Knox, Environmental Services Manager at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "This successful prosecution came about as a result of a customer complaint that the shop had mice. On inspection, our officers found evidence of an uncontrolled mice infestation. They found food which was contaminated by mice which was on sale to the general public - for example, they discovered crisp and peanut packets which had been gnawed and surrounded by mice droppings.

"Anyone running a shop were food is being sold has a responsibility to the public to ensure their hygiene levels are the best they can be. Clearly this was not the case at this establishment. Taking this legal action is always a last resort but we are determined to protect public safety and ensure standards are kept high across the district."

For more information please call 01353 665555 or logon to www.eastcambs.gov.uk