A popular Chinese restaurant in Chatham Maritime was shut down by environmental health officers for several days after it was found to have an infestation of mice.

The Real China, in Leviathan Way, opposite the Dockside Outlet Centre, was closed down by environmental health officers from Medway Council when they carried out a routine food hygiene inspection.

During their visit, on Monday, March 17, officers also found the all-you-can-eat establishment was found to have poor cleaning standards in the kitchen and other food areas.

Staff at the eatery were served with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice which ordered them to close the restaurant immediately.

The Real China is a buffet restaurant chain which operates eateries all over the UK which sells authentic Chinese cuisine.

Officers then worked with staff on site for three days to get the premises clean so it could then meet the necessary food safety and hygiene standards.

Staff at the restaurant also called in pest control contractors to get rid of the mice and environmental health officers were able to allow the establishment to reopen for business on Friday, March 21.

A spokesman for Medway Council, said: “Our Environmental Health Officers visited The Real China, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime on Monday, March 17, to carry out a routine food hygiene inspection.

“They found evidence of an infestation of mice and poor cleaning standards in the kitchen and other food areas.

“A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice (HEPN) was served immediately to close the premises.

“Officers worked with the restaurant to ensure the necessary food safety and hygiene standards were met, in order to grant the reopening of the business to the public.

“These visits by our environmental health officers, along with the co-operation of the restaurant and the pest control contractor enabled the business to reopen on Friday, March 21."