THE boss of a takeaway closed by environmental health chiefs following a mice infestation has vowed to clean up his act, despite claiming he is not to blame for the outbreak.

Askar Miah, who owns the Lounge Restaurant and Bar in High Street, Southampton, has been banned from serving food until he brings it up to an acceptable standard.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court formally rubber stamped a hygiene emergency prohibition order served by Southampton City Council after its inspectors visited the restaurant on Friday, April 12.

Council environmental health officer Gavin Derrick told the court he arranged the visit after a customer reported seeing a mouse on the property.

Mr Derrick showed the court pictures of mice droppings on surfaces used to prepare bread, on shelves next to open food containers and on the kitchen floors.

He told the court: “I was satisfied that we had an active mouse infestation with food at risk of contamination.”

But Mr Miah, of Lingdale, Chilworth, who gave evidence through an interpreter, said other tenants were running the restaurant at the time.

He told the court: “Yes, it belongs to me but the person who was renting it was in the process of taking over the licence.

“I wasn’t running the business, someone else was running the business and it was their fault.

“As they have left the property, I am trying to do my best to improve it.”

Mr Derrick stressed the hearing was to ratify the prohibition order rather than apportioning any blame and said: “On that night I had to serve a document on who I believed was the operator of the business.

“It may be that another operator is responsible and the person who is prosecuted for food offences may not be Mr Miah if it is found out later.”

Afterwards Mr Miah said: “I’ve been here since 1993 to 2012 and I’ve had no problems.

“They can’t take the tenants to court and they are taking me to court – it isn’t my fault.

“I feel very, very bad and am angry at the people who did it.”