A TAUNTON town centre takeaway has been forced to close after the discovery of a rat infestation serious enough to be a significant risk of contamination of food.

Zaza’s Chicken House on Station Road received a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice which means the premises cannot be used as a food business.

The business needs to resolve the issue and apply for a certificate of satisfaction from the Food Safety and Hygiene authority in order to open and be used as a food business again.

Somerset County Gazette: Zaza's Chicken House on Station RoadZaza's Chicken House on Station Road (Image: Newsquest)

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: “The Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 – Regulation 8.

“This has meant that the premises had to immediately stop being used as a food business because the health risk condition has been fulfilled due to an imminent risk of injury to human health from a rat infestation serious enough to be a significant risk of contamination to food.

“Once the business has resolved the problem they can apply to the authority, in writing, for a certificate of satisfaction which, if granted, would allow the premises to be used as a food business again.

“In the meantime, the authority must apply to the Magistrates Court for an Order confirming the prohibition. The application has been lodged with the court.”