AT least 100 diners were struck down by a mass food poisoning outbreak after eating at a filthy Hampshire restaurant, a court heard.

A management company and one of its directors have been told to pay more than £70,000 in fines and costs after scores of customers fell victim to poor hygiene at the Real China complex in Eastleigh.

It was the biggest food poisoning outbreak the borough council had ever dealt with and resulted in several people being admitted to hospital.

Southampton Magistrates' Court heard that health inspectors launched an investigation when diners became ill after visiting the buffet-style restaurant at the Swan Centre.

Malcolm Gibney, prosecuting on behalf of Eastleigh Borough Council, said the inspectors found a raft of hygiene breaches.

These included raw meat that was being defrosted in the sink, inadequate cleaning and disinfection methods and dirty tea towels in the kitchen.

He added: "A door between the loo and the kitchen was wedged open - a practice that was totally unacceptable."

Mr Gibney said the outbreak erupted in July last year and involved 100 confirmed cases of salmonella that were subsequently linked to the restaurant, which closed for several days while it was deep cleaned.

He confirmed that no-one had died but added: "A number of people were hospitalised."

The court heard that the company which ran the restaurant, Akkora Management, and one of its directors, Zudong Liu, each pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to 15 offences of failing to comply with EU laws relating to food safety and hygiene.

Michael Parrott, defending, said: "The restaurant had systems in place but they fell well below the standard expected. It's a matter of profound regret."

District Judge Anthony Calloway said people living in Eastleigh, Southampton and Winchester were among those taken ill as a result of what he described as poor cleaning and disinfectant techniques and inappropriate washing up procedures.

He added: "There is no doubt that the restaurant fell far short of the appropriate standards."

Akkora was fined a total of £30,000 - £2,500 for each offence - and Liu was fined a total of £21,500. They will also have to pay a total of £22,000 costs.

The court heard that the restaurant was now being run by another company.

Speaking after the case a borough council spokesman said it was the biggest food poisoning outbreak that the authority had ever experienced.

As reported in the Daily Echo at the time, the council received scores of complaints from members of the public who ate at the Real China between July 11 and 24, when it closed while the authority pursued its investigation.

Following the closure the restaurant management carried out a deep clean of the premises and reviewed their working practices.

One of the diners affected was George Williams, 20, of North Baddesley, who suffered "two weeks of hell" caused by vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

He became so unwell he ended up in hospital where doctors feared he might have Crohn's Disease, a chronic bowel condition.

Speaking at the time he told the Daily Echo: "It's definitely the worst illness I've ever had. I've missed out on so much sleep I have no energy at all."