A RESTAURANT boss called police to his award-winning Indian after a customer claimed to have found a dead mouse in her curry.

Officers were called to Shajan, in Clayton-le-Dale, after a row erupted over claims a group of eight found the rodent in their curry.

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A photo showing the mouse on a plate was posted on Facebook but has now been removed and owner Mohammad Ali says the animal was "planted" in the dish The restaurant boss who counts former Premier League star David Dunn among his customers, now plans to sue them for damaging his reputation.

Police confirmed they were called to the popular curry house on Saturday night and say the matter has now been handed over to environmental health inspectors who are carrying out tests on the mouse to establish whether it was cooked or not.

Mr Ali said: "We are aware of these allegations. We are victims of a targeted malicious attack by someone who has a grudge against the restaurant.

"We are complying fully with the environmental health officers from the council, who have visited and have found no issues of concern.

"We are proud of our high hygiene standard and have been awarded a 5 rating under the national food hygiene scheme "I have now placed this matter in the hands of my solicitor who will be taking the appropriate action."

He added: "The police have been contacted. Inspectors from the council have been and they are satisfied with everything."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Asked what he thought of someone who would deliberately put a mouse in a curry, Mr Ali said: "It's disappointing. That is all I can say."

Mr Ali's solicitor Michael Corrigan said: "This is a malicious act by a person with a grudge against the restaurant and we will be taking court proceedings against them with the view to claiming damages."

Lancashire police confirmed they were called to reports of a "nuisance" at around 8.35pm last Saturday.

A police spokesperson said: "At this stage Environmental Health are continuing with their investigation and we are liaising with them."

Customer Jamie Marshall said: "I was on the next table. I can vouch for the restaurant. I have been here for over 10 years. Funnily the only meal in question was the only one left. A huge amount of other dishes had been polished off! I ate my meal AFTER said find in confidence. These people clearly had no regard for a restaurant with a great reputation and more importantly many people's livelihood."

Tom Steele said: “I saw the photo and thought it odd that everything apart from the mouse seemed to have been eaten.”

The photo was shared on Facebook by Holly Marsden after it was sent to her by a friend.

She posted: "Apparently that mouse was planted according to the comments. So I apologise to everyone. I can't believe anyone would actually go that far. I will be personally calling the restaurant to apologise."

The restaurant, in Longsight Road, regularly receives five star reviews on Trip Advisor.

Keoghsbb, from Preston posted recently "the best Indian food ever" while Chrissy J considered the cuisine the "tastiest curry in Lancashire" and gave it five stars.

Messages of support for the restaurant, voted the best in the North West in 2010, have flooded in on social media.

Faith Brown posted: "I travel from Manchester to go to this Indian and would never question their hygiene the place is beautiful the food is amazing and the service is brilliant!"

And Tracy Fielding-Thompson said: "Spotlessly clean, gorgeous food and lovely family. Heard about this from people that were dining there on the day it happened and immediately thought it was someone trying it on ....you would notice a whole mouse in your food as would the chef ... Some people have no qualms about trying to ruin hard working people's businesses. Luckily this restaurant has such a good reputation it won't stop the regular patrons."