A takeaway pizza place has been ordered to remain closed until hygiene measures are put in place after health inspectors discovered the premises infested with rats.

Officials took the drastic action to immediately shut down Sittingbourne's popular Papa John's following a routine visit last Thursday.

A notice pinned to the front of the West Street eatery informed customers of a significant risk of food contamination.

Magistrates today granted a hygiene emergency prohibition order against the premises owned and run by Chatha Sittingbourne Limited.

The owner, Darbara Singh Chatha, was not present at the hearing at Medway Magistrates Court.

He was ordered to pay Swale Borough Council’s costs of £2,604.96 to obtain the order.

The business will not be able to reopen until the necessary work has been carried out and environmental health teams have inspected the premises.

They will check the infestation is under control and that necessary repairs have been completed.

It is the first time in five years that the council, which is responsible for environmental health, has been forced to take such an extreme approach.

A spokesman said: "The decision was made to serve a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice which closed the business with immediate effect.

"This will be confirmed at the magistrates court."

It is not yet known how long the takeaway will be shut.

The emergency prohibition notice taped to the window reads: "There is an active live rat infestation and poor structural repair resulting in a significant risk of contamination of food."

Neither the franchise nor Papa John's head office have responded to requests for comment.