Leicester Curry House was closed on the spot after rats and mice were found in the kitchen

A curry house in Leicester was closed while customers were inside the table – after inspectors found a live mouse in the kitchen.

Environmental health officers also noticed large amounts of rat droppings in the food preparation areas of the Shimla Pinks restaurant in the East Midlands city.

Inspectors found a strong smell of rat urine in the basement, as well as droppings in a pan shop, next to a microwave oven and even stuck to a kitchen scale.

Shimla Pinks was closed while customers were inside (SWNS)

Staff were told to stop taking food orders on Tuesday night – and a closing notice was given at 8.50pm.

A hearing was held at Leicester Magistrates’ Court yesterday to confirm Leicester City Council’s decision to close the popular restaurant.

Nicki Agalamanyi, representing the authority, showed the court 60 photographs showing evidence of the infestation.

A live mouse was observed during inspection (SWNS)

She said: “They found extensive mouse activity in the downstairs area.

“Feces were found behind the freezer. There were holes in the doors that allowed access and holes in the baseboards as well.

“The premises remain unsuitable for use as a food space.”

Rat droppings were spread in the kitchen (SWNS)

She told the court how mice can infect people with diseases including salmonella and E.coli.

As well as upholding the decision to close the restaurant, the bank ordered the company to pay £1,000 costs to cover the council’s costs.

Mice can infect humans with diseases including salmonella and E.coli (SWNS)

The restaurant will have to remain closed until inspectors are convinced it still poses a health risk.

No one from the restaurant attended the hearing.

Staff told to stop taking food orders immediately (SWNS)

But after the case owner Meeten Patel said thousands of pounds are now being spent rebuilding walls and replacing kitchen equipment.

He said: “We’ve made the decision to stay closed for about a week, even if we’re allowed to open earlier, because we want to put new walls in so the rodents can’t get in again.

Owners say spending ‘thousands’ to fix problem (SWNS)

“We will also replace some old equipment.

“I feel terrible for having this problem and not being able to control it.”

He said the apartments above the restaurant have had rodent problems in the past, and that staff noticed mice behind the restaurant and sent photos to city wardens.

Holes in Walls Found (SWNS)

He added that while he “feels bad” about what happened, he is “happy that we have this chance to fix the problem once and for all so we can say hello to our customers again.”