A BLACKBURN town centre cafe where environmental health officers found a dead mouse has been ordered to pay £5,000 for a series of food hygiene offences.

Blackburn magistrates heard that a full inspection of Cookies Coffee House in the shopping centre's Victoria Court revealed numerous breaches of regulations.

And the company and one of its directors were ordered to pay fines and costs after admitting seven offences.

Sajada Khan, prosecuting for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said the environmental health department were alerted to a complaint about rodent droppings.

When they inspected the premises they found a dead mouse behind the Coca-Cola dispensing machine and rodent droppings in various parts of the cafe and food preparation areas.

They found the design and layout of the kitchen did not allow for it to be effectively cleaned and reported various dirty and greasy surfaces as well as flooring, shelving and skirting that was not properly sealed.

The air conditioning and ventilation system was dusty, the court was told.

Miss Khan said that there were follow up visits the following day and later when problems still existed, but by the time a visit was made on November 23 everything was in order.

Darren Cookson, 37, of Regent Avenue, Lytham St Annes, pleaded guilty to seven allegations and was fined £200 on each.

He also entered guilty pleas on behalf of the company, Country Larder Limited, of Charter House, Pitman Way, Fulwood, Preston, and they were fined £350 on each.

They were also ordered to pay costs of £1,150.

Mr Cookson told environmental officers he had owned and operated the business for 20 years.

He said there had been an issue with rodents for some time and that he had dismissed the manager, who he didn't think he was doing the job properly.

Mr Cookson told the court that as well as dismissing the manager actions had been taken to make sure the cafe complied with all regu-lations.

He said Victoria Court had well documented problems with rodents and the shopping centre spent thousands of pounds a year trying to control it.

"We have our own contract with a pest control company as we have always been aware of the problem," said Mr Cookson.

He said the Blackburn unit was currently running at a loss and was for sale.

"We may have to consider closure or a complete re-fit to a very high standard," said Mr Cookson.

"At all times we have tried to co-operate and comply and I still struggle to understand why, when we have done everything possible, we have ended up in court."