FOOD inspectors have given a kebab shop the lowest possible hygiene score after discovering a rat infestation.

Kebab Nite in London Road, Brighton, scored zero out of five after the finding by council inspectors on July 21.

Hygiene officers found rat droppings at the shop, which prides itself on “catering for everybody”, and told management to urgently improve standards. However, manager Hasan Ilhan said he had been “cleaning every night” since the inspection and the rats must have found their way through a hole in a back door.

He said: “I have been here for two years and this has never happened before. When I found out I felt unwell. I was disappointed.

“The inspector found rat droppings and we then got in our own poison man, who caught two rats. They were found in the store room but there is no food kept in there.

“The food inspector came again on Wednesday to check how we were getting on. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a better score this time as we have cleaned everything up.”

Ky Mossman, of Terminate Pest Control in Brighton, said the city was prone to rats because it has many old buildings. He said: “There are a lot of old builds in Brighton and Hove that rats can get into easily by making holes in doors – especially in basements.

“They’re given easy access because of this. Once they’re in, they urinate everywhere and obviously leave droppings all over the place which is hazardous to health.

“The advice would be to check for any signs where rats could gain access and block it up. If you think you have an infestation, you need to get it dealt with sharply.”