THE owners of a Chinese take-away in York, which inspectors branded "filthy" and a risk to public health, have been fined £5,000.

Oriental Express Trade Ltd, which formerly ran the Oriental Express Chinese take-away on Gillygate, was brought before York Magistrates following a damming environmental health inspection.

The company, which has since been dissolved, was fined £5,000 for five food hygiene offences.

An Oriental Express take-away still operates on Gillygate, but it has new owners and is in no way linked to the offences.

The charges, dating back to February 20, include failing to provide hot running water and failing to ensure food was protected against contamination likely to render it unfit for human consumption.

Tessa Clarke, prosecuting for City of York Council, said: "The premises were in a very dirty condition, with no hot water and little thought given to the safe woking practices to prevent food being contaminated. The business posed a risk to public health."

She said Oriental Express Trade Ltd owned the business with Yuan Jia Hu, of Malton Lane, York, responsible for its day-to-day running.

On February 20 inspectors found no hot running water.

"Chefs were unable to disinfect their hands properly after using the toilet and before preparing food," said Miss Clarke.

She said Hu admitted, under caution, he knew the boiler had been broken.

She said the premises were "filthy, dirty and greasy" with dirt on the cooker, surfaces and floor.

"Cooked duck was cooled directly over the sink used for washing up, open to contamination from flies, dust and dirty water," she said.

Cooked duck was also found stored directly above a container of raw chicken while other food was kept in dirty bags and some containers were stacked on top of refuse.

Cooked chips were stored beside a wall with flaky plaster; meat was in a ripped bag on a dirty shelf; the fridge door was badly damaged while the bottom shelf had rust and mould.

Miss Clarke said the concrete storeroom floor was badly pitted and could not be cleaned.

The take-away closed that day. Four days later a new boiler was fitted, cleanliness improved and separate fridges were provided for meats.

But a return visit in September showed standards had deteriorated again.

Hakan Vural, company director, said he and Hu left the chef in charge of running the kitchen but "proper chefs" were difficult to find.

"We just tried to manage it and make it profitable," he said. "Oriental Express Trade Ltd has been dissolved. We are very sorry. We are very ready to pay what we have to. As a food engineer I feel ashamed."

Hu was fined £200, the company £5,000 as well as £452 prosecution costs.

Updated: 11:04 Friday, November 19, 2004