A YORK buffet-style restaurant has been fined more than £10,000 after environmental health officers found it consistently failed to meet food hygiene standards.

Officers from City of York Council took action against Chinese restaurant Jumbo Buffet, in George Hudson Street, as a result of an environmental health swoop on November 8, 2002.

During the inspection they found various issues of concern including failure to keep the premises clean and inadequate temperature controls for food.

Inspectors also discovered food stored in ways which left it open to contamination.

The 2002 inspection followed previous visits where matters were drawn to the attention of bosses - but had not been dealt with.

Colin Rumford, City of York Council head of environmental health and trading standards, told the Evening Press the authority worked with sites like Jumbo to maintain food safety standards for customers.

He said the council had little option but to take the matter to court when Jumbo bosses "consistently disregarded" its advice.

He said: "It is our policy to work with all food buffets to give advice and help to meet their legal responsibilities.

"However, when bosses consistently disregard that advice and don't work with us to improve standards of food safety, we won't hesitate to take formal enforcement action, including prosecution where necessary.

"At the end of the day, it is public safety that is our primary concern."

York magistrates fined the company £3,500 for each of the three offences, making a total fine of £10,500.

Jumbo Limited, a Leeds-based company, must also pay £660 prosecution costs to City of York Council.

A spokesman for Jumbo today declined to comment.

Updated: 12:09 Saturday, February 14, 2004