Following complaints from residents and councillors, environmental health officers from the city council carried out an inspection of Chickster’s in Stanley Road, Kirkdale, on September 13

Public health officials have shut down a food takeaway in North Liverpool after finding evidence of rats, flies and cockroaches.

Following complaints from residents and councillors, environmental health officers from the city council carried out an inspection of Chickster’s in Stanley Road, Kirkdale, on September 13.

People had raised concerns about the general condition of the building, food premises and other problems associated with waste.

Officers found evidence of rats, flies and cockroaches in the food storage and preparation rooms and basement and deemed hygiene and cleaning standards to be low meaning it posed an imminent risk to health.

The council successfully applied for an emergency prohibition order at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday, September 18.

Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We have had no choice but to have it shut down because it poses a risk to public health.

“We will of course work with the owners to support them to address the issues we have found and if they do this to our satisfaction they will be able to reopen.”

The order was granted by District Judge Lloyd who agreed that the premises must remain closed until agreement has been reached with Liverpool City Council that the Emergency Prohibition order can be removed.