by Dan Bloom

A cheery sign said "keep this place clean" – but council inspectors found cockroaches, mice and flour filled with droppings at a Chatham restaurant.

The Mainland Kitchen African Restaurant, in Luton Road, was shut down last summer just a few months after it opened.

Medway magistrates heard manager Kudirat Kareem, 54, could not afford crucial building works and has since reopened the restaurant after carrying them out.

But the court fined her £511 and made her pay Medway Council £2,500 costs after she pleaded guilty to seven food hygiene charges.

Alan Conroy, prosecuting for the council, said: "There was found to be an infestation by mice and cockroaches that was serious enough to result in an emergency closure.

"Flour used for making speciality bread was found to be contaminated with droppings.

"Currently there is no immediate risk to the public, but what can’t be said is how long people were put at risk."

Inspectors visited on July 15 and found mice, cockroaches, broken plug sockets, trailing wires, untrained staff, dirty floors and walls and no hot water.

"The only sink had the tap heads missing and the only way to turn it on was with pliers," Mr Conroy added.

The court heard on Tuesday Kareem, of Hazelhurst Road, Tooting, South London, opened for business with her daughter "against her better judgement" last year.

She agreed to close her doors until the problems were solved. A follow-up inspection on September 16 said the infestation was "under control".

"Mrs Kareem has had some time to reflect upon her actions and she had told me she is very much aware that it was completely unacceptable," said Matthew Davis, defending. "She is confident the council will find no further problems."

Chairman of the bench Stephen Boughton said there were "a number of warnings given that it doesn’t appear were acted on initially."

A neighbour in Luton Road, who did not want to be named, said: "So many of the restaurants down here need to be shut. There are all sorts of problems, people working illegally and bad conditions."