Mouse droppings, dog hairs and mould were found in the kitchens of a loss-making country school, a court was told.

Red House, a preparatory school with 21 pupils aged three to 11 at Moor Monkton, near York, was visited by Harrogate Council environmental health officers last June following a telephone tip-off.

What the inspectors found in the kitchens of the 17th century mansion was outlined to Harrogate magistrates by prosecutor Lynne Ashton. The company which runs the school admitted two offences under the food hygiene regulations - failing to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition and failing to ensure food was protected against contamination by pests likely to cause health problems.

Miss Ashton said the inspection had uncovered what analysis showed was mouse droppings and dog hairs. There had been mould and flaking paint on the walls, doors were dirty and ceilings greasy. There had been no hot water to washbasins and what towels were there had been dirty.

Cobwebs had been present near windows, one of which had been left open without a mesh cover, providing entry for flies immediately above a dirty food preparation area.

A week later inspectors went back and though some work had been done, many of the problem areas remained, as they did when a third visit was made two months after the first.

Miss Ashton said it had not been until a September visit that all the inspectors' worries had been overcome.

Previously the kitchens had been in a very sub-standard condition and the council had been concerned at the state of them, particularly as children were involved.

In mitigation, Gordon Gildener said food legislation was a minefield but his clients recognised there had been major deficiencies. Dogs had been banished from the kitchens and everything had been made right during the school's summer holiday.

Two of the trusted catering staff, who had opened an unprotected window on a hot day, were no longer working at the school which, because of its age had massively thick walls which caused problems with damp.

Mr Gildener said: "My clients, who operate a very caring community, are deeply ashamed the matter should have come into the public domain."

He handed the Bench company accounts which he said showed a loss. "This is a non-profit making organisations determined to do its absolute utmost to maintain a caring environment for its children. It is not a question of people using exploitation and taking monies out. They are dipping into their own pockets to help. A severe penalty could be the stick which beats them into submission."

Presiding magistrate Jack Kennerley said the Bench had considered a referral for sentence to York Crown Court. The school was fined £4,000 on each charge - the maximum is £5,000 - with £1,040.22 costs.

School headmaster Tony Gordon said: "Without doubt the school will definitely be staying open and we are now looking to the future."

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