A CHINESE takeaway stored food in the back yard and staff were unable to wash their hands in a basin in the kitchen, a court was told.

Eu Weng Ang, a boss at Star City, in Thicketford Road, is nearly £4,000 out of pocket after being convicted of 23 hygiene offences at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

The takeaway was closed for two days in February last year after food hygiene inspectors deemed there to be a risk to the public.

In court, Ang admitted all the offences, which related to two visits from Bolton Council officers on February 19 and October 7 last year.

At a court hearing following the February closure, Ang said they had cleaned up and would "keep to the high standards".

But Star City received a second zero rating when it was inspected again in October 2014.

Ang was fined £1,500, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,198 and a £120 victim surcharge.

The takeaway Star City remains open and has been allowed to continue trading.

An environmental health officer noted "very poor" cleanliness on the February 19 inspection, observing that the structure, equipment, utensils and containers in contact with food were dirty.

The hand wash basin in the kitchen was also being used as a holder for plastic containers.

There was evidence of mould and fungus growing on the ceiling in a food preparation area, access for pests and risks of cross contamination from raw to ready-to-eat foods, the council said.

Boxes of meat, such as chicken, were being kept outside of a fridge, while other foods, such as fried rice and cooked chicken balls, were also being kept in the wrong temperature.

After the inspection, in which Star City scored zero, they were ordered to close under a Hygiene Prohibition Order.

They reopened two days later after adequate improvements were made.

But they received another zero rating on a follow-up inspection on September 23.

When the council again went to investigate on October 7, officers found the wash basin was still inaccessible, and that food was at risk of contamination.

The back yard was also still being used as a food handling and storage area.

Ang agreed to stop using the yard for food storage.

Cllr Nick Peel, executive cabinet member for environmental services said: “Bolton Council takes food safety very seriously and will take legal action where food business operators place the public at risk.

"It is important that all food business operators maintain high standards of food hygiene."

Members of the public can check the food hygiene rating of places where they eat out or shop for food at ratings.food.gov.uk.

Ang was unavailable for comment following the hearing.