Staff at an Indian takeaway say their business has been ruined by a Facebook post alleging a cockroach had been found in a customer’s food.

Shahil Uddin, who works at Margate Indian Spice, says custom at the restaurant in Tivoli Road has dried up since the social media message was uploaded earlier this month and shared more than 240 times.

The post included a picture of what is alleged to have been a half-eaten cockroach, but Mr Uddin, 39, maintains it was a piece of masala tikka spice.

Food hygiene officers have since been to the shop and found no trace of the pests, but Mr Uddin says the impact of the post has been devastating, with fewer customers now using the takeaway.

“Business at the moment is very quiet because so many people have seen it on Facebook and believe it,” he said.

“Everyone is sharing it - more than 200 people are sharing and commenting on it.

“It was a masala tikka spice that was found in the food, not a cockroach.”

Mr Uddin says the customer’s partner brought the food back into the restaurant.

“When I told him it wasn’t a cockroach he said ‘are you blind?’ I said ‘I’m not blind, are you blind?’,” Mr Uddin said.

“I refunded the money for him.

“He said he’d put something on Facebook. I never said anything because I don’t want to upset my business.”

The customer - who used the takeaway regularly - reported the restaurant to Thanet District Council and it was visited by a food inspector the following day, on September 11.

A report on the inspection reads: “At the time of my visit I found no evidence of cockroaches in the premises.

“Business has pest control contract with Coney Pest Control, last visited in May 2015.

“No issues were found with cockroaches at this visit.

“You are reminded to ensure food kept out is covered at all times and I strongly recommend that you install a fly screen on your rear door.”

The customer is aware of the latest inspection report, but maintains there was a cockroach in their food, which was ordered through a delivery app.

She says she was eating her meal when she felt a crunch, adding: “It was 1,000% a cockroach - it had legs and everything.”

Following an inspection in April this year, the takeaway was awarded five stars - the top score - from inspectors, who rated it good in hygienic food handling, cleanliness of facilities and food safety management.