A COUNCILLOR "concocted a story" in a bid to avoid prosecution for having cockroaches and rodent droppings in the food shop which he runs.

And Coun Hussain Akhtar was warned that he could be thrown out of the Labour Party after appearing in court accused of food hygiene offences.

The Blackburn with Darwen councillor, who represents Shear Brow, was fined £3,500 with £5,000 costs after admitting two breaches of regulations at Akhtar's Food Store, Whalley Range, Blackburn.

During an application to have the case stayed, Akhtar claimed that when he was cautioned for a similar offence in April 2005, council officials promised he would not be inspected for at least six months.

Peter Turner, defending, told Liverpool magistrates that as the inspection was carried out only four months later the case should be halted.

But Akhtar failed to present any evidence of this and the prosecution said he had been told he would be inspected within six months, not after.

District Judge Miriam Shelvey said: "I find that Mr Akhtar has concocted the promise as a way of seeking a stay in the proceedings."

After the case, Coun Kate Hollern, leader of the council and the controlling Labour Group, said: "Coun Akhtar needs to realise how seriously we take situations like this.

"We expect councillors to set a positive example."

Coun Hollern did not rule out that he would be thrown out of the party.

Akhtar was accused of failing to keep the premises clean and in good condition and failing to store, package, and display food to protect against contamination.

The court was told that rodent droppings were found in Bombay mix, a dead mouse, mouse droppings and food debris were discovered under and to the back of a fridge, and cockroaches were found in a trap.

The court heard that in February 2005, Akhtar was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £650 costs after admitting four offences of selling food past its use-by date.

And in August 2006 he pleaded guilty to the sale of single cigarettes.

Mr Turner said there had been a problem with rodents in Shear Brow and his client had spent considerable sums on pest control at the shop "It was being inundated with them from outside," he added.

He said the bags of contaminated food had been delivered to the store with splits and were awaiting return to the supplier.

He said that the store had been inspected last week and was fit to trade.

Coun Akhtar refused to comment.