A TOWN centre Indian restaurant has been hit with a £1,900 court bill for operating without any running water.

The Achari Restaurant, in Crook Street, was forced to close for a day last year because their water supply was disconnected, Bolton Magistrates Court heard.

United Utilities told Bolton Council of a water disconnection on August 29, 2013, prompting an officer to visit the premises on the same day and issue a hygiene emergency prohibition notice to stop them from operating.

Achari had to shut immediately but was allowed to reopen the next day when the water was reconnected.

Sanu Miah, Achari’s business operator, was prosecuted because of the restaurant’s history.

It shut in March 2006 because of a lack of a water supply and in May, 2012, for rodent activity.

Miah pleaded guilty to operating a food business without an adequate supply of potable water, and hot and cold running water at the sink and wash basin in the kitchen.

Miah was fined £100 for each of the three offences, a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £1,634.

Cllr Nick Peel, executive member for environmental services, said: “Bolton Council takes food hygiene very seriously and we work hard to maintain and drive up standards.

“We work closely with food businesses in Bolton and many do score well on the food hygiene rating system.

“We will always take firm action against any establishment which fails to meet acceptable standards.

“In this case the restaurant had a poor record of compliance with food hygiene requirements, which is why we took the decision to prosecute.

“However, we’re pleased that since then the owner has made improvements and standards have gone up.”

Achari’s latest food hygiene rating on December 9, 2013 was a three, an improvement on the two rating it had when its water was disconnected last August.

To check latest ratings for food businesses on the Food Standards Agency website, visit food.gov.uk