The owner of a kebab shop which was infested with rats has been ordered to pay more than £6,000.

Karim Karatas, who ran Barbeque Kebab and Pizza, in Sackville Road, Bexhill, pleaded guilty to seven environmental health offences and one health and safety breach at Hastings Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told that environmental health officers from Rother District Council found rat droppings in the freezer, in the storage cupboard and close to where food was cooked.

A dead rat was removed from the extractor duct casing leading from the kitchen.

An emergency closure order was made on the building until environmental health officers were satisfied the rat infestation had been eliminated.

Karatas was fined £4,015 and ordered to pay £2,020 costs.