A restaurant owner has been forced to close his business after council health inspectors discovered an infestation of cockroaches.

The Curry Garden restaurant in Dover was closed down by the district council.

A statement on the Indian restaurant's website and Facebook page confirmed it was closed "until further notice" but did not explain the reason why.

But a notice placed on the door by the council's environmental health inspector explained it was applying to the courts for an emergency hygiene prohibition order.

It comes after the Dover District Council environmental health team found evidence of a "cockroach infestation throughout the premises including the bar and kitchen".

The restaurant, in the High Street, said in a statement it had been shut since Thursday.

The council will be applying for the order at Canterbury Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning.

Advice on the council's website about cockroaches says the insects carry food poisoning germs and spread diseases such as dysentry and gastroenteritis.

It states: "They will feed on almost anything including faecal matter and food for human consumption. Contamination will occur when the insect comes into contact with food or work surfaces or through faecal contamination of foodstuffs."

The restaurant was given a rating of three out of five when food safety inspectors visited in June.

The rating is given to premises which are "generally satisfactory".