A butcher's shop has been slapped with a zero-star hygiene rating after a curtained toilet was found in a food preparation area.

Inspectors have handed the Rayan Butcher and Grocery in Ashford the rock-bottom score after also discovering an illegal import of meat products.

The scathing review reveals how staff were not wearing protective clothing when handling raw meat and no suitable cleaning or disinfectant products were being used to clean equipment and utensils.

And the owner of the Beaver Road shop has revealed customers are now "scared" to use the business due to the damning rating.

Inspectors from Ashford Borough Council (ABC) visited the site on February 7 and 9 where they discovered a toilet in a food preparation area.

The report said: "The toilet in the wash-up areas opens directly into a room where food was being stored and handled. There was no door - only a curtain.

"Lavatories must not open directly into rooms in which food is handled. A lobby is required between the toilet and food room.

"There must be a ventilated lobby between the toilet and food handling area."

Raw meat and fresh vegetables were found to be stored in the same chiller, with the report saying these should be stored separately to prevent cross-contamination.

An illegal import of meat from Nigeria was also discovered at the shop.

"You surrendered these for destruction," the inspectors said.

"You must not accept offers of illegal imported food, such as spiced dried meat from Nigeria."

The report added how there were no suitable cleaning and disinfectant products being used to clean equipment and utensils.

Several food items were found past their best-before date and a number of items were found to be in a state of disrepair.

"There is an open drain at the threshold of the butchery and rear wash up area," the report said.

"The drain pipe to the wash hand basin in the butchery was sealed with sticky tape and is corrugated so waste will collect in it.

"Drainage facilities must be adequate for the purpose intended. They are to be designed and constructed to avoid the risk of contamination."

The report was obtained by KentOnline via a Freedom of Information request.

'I am going to have a hard time now...'

Previously called Alim Butcher and Grocery, father-of-three Ibrahim Awad launched the grocery and Halal butchers in 2021.

The Syrian refugee arrived in the town with his wife and children just before Christmas in 2015.

The former stonemason was determined to forge a new life for himself and his family, as well as providing something he thought the town was missing.

But he now fears his shop will be forced to close following the damning report.

"The business is my life," he told KentOnline.

"I work day and night to build it - it is not easy. It is a bad situation, everyone is talking about it and now they're scared to come to me.

"I am going to have a hard time now."

Mr Awad says the illegal import of meat from Nigeria was not on the shelf and was in storage.

And he says he is working to address the concerns raised in the report.

A council spokesperson said: "During inspections appropriate advice is provided to businesses on how they can improve and they are subsequently able to book a revisit to be re-evaluated."