A chicken shop has been shut for the second time in a year after raw sewage and a mice infestation was found throughout.

A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order was given to Tasty Chicken ‘N’ Pizza at Hoe Street, Walthamstow, after an inspection found extremely dirty conditions.

It is not the first time an order has been served on the takeaway, back in March last year inspectors closed the shop after mould was found, filthy cloths were used to clean and chicken was being stored in warm conditions.

But in a new inspection on Tuesday (February 9), Waltham Forest council’s environmental health officers said they were “stunned” at what they discovered.

The toilet and toilet floor were splattered with faeces and due to the toilet being cracked and leaking, food handlers were trailing raw sewage through the shop on their shoes.

Mouse droppings was found on food equipment, behind chest freezers and even on a plastic cover on top of some pizza dough.

In the serving area, mice had been nibbling on chips that had been spilt.

Raw chicken juices had run all over the floor of the walk-in fridge and the handles and seal were encrusted with food debris.

Chopping boards and cleaning cloths were filthy, and the magnetic strip used to store knives had a thick layer of grease.

The sink trap was leaking and instead of fixing it staff had put a bowl underneath which had accumulated stagnant water.

No soap was found to be available anywhere on the premises for washing hands.

There was an accumulation of rubbish in the rear yard, with one black plastic bag ripped open by pests and the contents strewn all over the yard.

Finally a broom's bristles were completely clogged with grease and food debris.

The matter was put before Stratford Magistrates Court on February 12, where a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order was granted to the council so that the takeaway can remain closed until it can satisfy the inspector that all the problems have been addressed.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader of Waltham Forest council said: “I think it’s safe to say we will be looking to follow up with a prosecution of this business for such a flagrant disregard for the wellbeing of our residents.

“The foul conditions in which food was being prepared is quite unacceptable and it is simply not something we are going to tolerate in this borough.”