THE former owner of a shop in Winsford has been fined for its appalling' hygiene.

Usman Zafar pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to keep the One Stop Shop in Wharton Road and food equipment clean.

Environmental Health inspectors found dirty bakery equipment and a walk-in fridge with mould and bits of food stuck to the walls and storage containers.

Magistrates in Northwich described photographs taken by the officers as astonishing' and showed evidence of appalling standards'.

Zafar was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £700 costs.

He missed two previous court appearances and magistrates issued an arrest warrant to make sure he appeared to face the charges.

Councillor Mark Byram, lead councillor for community safeguards, said: "The visit indicated both a lack of basic food safety and poor standards of management.

"Such issues are often the main contributing factors to outbreaks of food poisoning."

Clr Byram has also warned other shop owners that they must keep their premises safe.

He said: "The council will not tolerate such poor standards within commercial premises, especially high risk ones where food is manufactured on the premises.

"The action taken by magistrates to have the defendant arrested is a clear message that they view breaches of food safety seriously and will use their powers to ensure defendants attend court."