The future of a Chinese takeway, where a customer was given a wing nut in a portion of crispy seaweed, will be decided today.

David Wen, the owner of Happy Times, in London Road, Larkfield, is set to appear in court today to be sentenced after pleading guilty to selling food not of the nature demanded by the purchaser, as well as charges of failing to keep food premises clean and maintained, failing to clean and disinfect equipment and failing to protect food against contamination.

The restaurant currently has a food hygiene rating of one out of five, after an inspection in June last year, which concluded "major improvement" was necessary in its food safety procedures.

The 52-year-old appeared before Magistrate's in Sevenoaks at the start of last month when the court was told a customer found the nut, thought to be from a piece of machinery, in a portion of the popular dish.

He also admitted using a vegetable chopper without safety measures to protect the user from dangerous moving parts.

Lawyers for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council made a prohibition order, which would result in Mr Wen closing the restaurant, but his representatives argued this would have a broader impact on others.

"This application has a very serious impact, not just on Mr Wen himself but on the three employees and his immediate family as well," the court was told.

"It would effectively put him out of business for good.

Simon Jones, representing the council, said: "Making this order will affect Mr Wen, but not making this order could affect the residents of Tonbridge and Malling, or anyone else who may happen to purchase food from this restaurant."

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