A Southall trader has been fined £17,500 for cooking and selling food from premises covered in mice droppings and cockroaches.

South 4 U Limited, that formerly owned Salaam Namaste, of 98 The Green, Southall was found guilty of seven food hygiene offences at Ealing Magistrates’ Court.

No one from South 4 U Limited attended the hearing and the company was ordered to pay a fine of £17,500 and £2,500 towards the council’s costs.

The council’s Regulatory Services officers visited Salam Namaste to carry out a routine inspection in May 2010.

They found massive numbers of mouse droppings on the floor and a number of surfaces throughout the restaurant.

The officers inspected the public eating area, kitchen and food storage areas and found mouse droppings and an infestation of cockroaches.

Food was being stored on the floor, surrounded by droppings and there was an open drain in the kitchen, which was thick with grease and bits of food.

The inspection highlighted that there was no hot water on the premises and there were no cleaning chemicals anywhere in the restaurant.

Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for Safer Communities, said: "It is appalling how the owner thought it was okay to operate the business under these conditions."

"The company did not care that they might be putting people’s health at risk, and that’s just unacceptable."

The restaurant is now owned by a new company.