ENVIRONMENTAL health officers have closed down another filthy restaurant after it was found to be infested with rats.

Chilli Grill, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton was issued with an emergency hygiene prohibition order after an inspection revealed the infestation as well as a catalogue of other failings.

Speaking at Waltham Forest Magistrates’ Court on January 22, senior environmental health officer Pip Broad said: “On January 20, I visited Chilli Grill as a routine inspection and I discovered a very poor standard of hygiene.

“There were rat droppings underneath the cooker as well as food containers and lots of dirt and grime.”

Mrs Broad described discovering pieces of polystyrene which had been chewed by the rats and were also covered in their urine and droppings.

“There was a dirty towel hanging up, which was going to spread bacteria on surfaces,” Mrs Broad added.

“We also saw ready-to-eat samosas stored on newspapers, which are dirty and the print can contaminate food.”

Rat droppings were discovered in the store room at the rear of the restaurant and raw chicken was being stored with cooked chicken, risking contamination.

An emergency hygiene prohibition notice was then served on the restaurant and magistrates ordered it to be closed until improvements in hygiene were made.

But Chilli Grill is to be given a new lease of life as current manager Mohommad Imran plans take over as the owner.

Under his care, the restaurant will undergo a deep clean and will be completely refurbished.

Mr Imran is also planning to take a course in food safety and has already called in exterminators to address the rat infestation.

He said: “I’ve been managing the shop for about three or four months and I’m going to be buying the shop within one week.

“Pest control came and did treatment and put down poison. I want to reopen the shop as soon as possible.”

Environmental health officers have also issued Mr Imran with a list of recommendations with which he must comply in order to begin trading again.