The Fortune House takeaway has been fined a small fortune for poor hygiene in its kitchen and violating health and safety regulations.

The Chinese takeaway in Chessington Road, Ewell, was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £400 towards the legal costs incurred by Epsom Council who brought the prosecution.

An inspection by environmental health officers found raw chicken defrosting at the sink next to a bag of cooked rice while raw meat and ready to eat foods were being prepared on the same work surface.

The cross-contamination, which might have caused food poisoning, came after the owner Simon Tsang had previous given assurances that hygiene would be improved.

He pleaded guilty to three food safety offences at South East Surrey Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 13.

He admitted to not having a food safety management system in place, not supervising or training staff in food hygiene and not taking steps to prevent cross-contamination.

Councillor Jean Steer, chairman of the social committee, said: "The level of the fine demonstrates the serious nature of the breaches and emphasises to all businesses the need for an effective food safety management system which needs to be properly communicated, understood and implemented by food handlers at all levels.

"In premises such as the Fortune House, safe and hygienic handling and storage of raw meats and other foods is essential in preventing against the risk of food poisoning, especially that of e-coli O157 cross contamination.

"The council's environmental health officers aim to work with local businesses to maintain and improve standards and offer advice to help them improve food safety and to comply with food safety regulations.

"However, when a business ignores the advice given to them and puts consumers at risk through their failure to meet accepted hygiene standards, the council will not hesitate to step in to protect the public."

The Fortune House is rated ‘0 - urgent improvement necessary' on the Food Standards Agency's food hygiene scheme.

You can check the ratings of local restaurants and takeaways at http://ratings.food.gov.uk