THESE are the disgusting images showing the dead mice, droppings and rotting meat found inside a zero-rated Chinese takeaway in Wirral.

Oriental Chef in Egremont was inspected a number of times in October last year – and the stomach-churning images have now been released by Wirral Council.

One of the pictures taken at the King Street takeaway appeared to show four mouse carcasses, with others depicting droppings in various locations around the premises.

Another image showed what appeared to be meat left to rot on the floor.

The shocking inspection report written by Wirral council and obtained through a Freedom of Information request was written in November, with the ‘zero’ food hygiene rating meaning ‘urgent improvement necessary’.

On the initial visit on October 22, mouse droppings were seen “throughout” the building, with dead mice found on the stairs in the basement.

The inspector said the business, which is rated 5.3 stars out of six on takeaway site Just Eat, had attempted to carry out its own in house baiting – but that measure had proved “inadequate”.

That was because the dead carcasses and droppings had not been cleared away before that visit, “despite [Oriental Chef] being aware of the ongoing pest problem”.

Rotting food debris was also found underneath one of the sinks, with residues of grease “evident around the cooking range”.

The report found the standard of cleaning at the takeaway to be “poor”, with a build-up of dirt, dust and debris underneath and behind equipment “throughout the premises”.

It said: “This build-up of dirt and debris makes it difficult to effectively monitor the pest activity and any potential food debris provides an alternative food source for the pests which deters them from taking the bait you have laid.”

Work to find and fill possible pest entry points had not been carried out either, and where repairs had been made, “the standard of workmanship was poor”.

There was also a lack of hygiene practices in place, such as unwrapped food, takeaway packaging and uncovered food on display close to where droppings were found.

A full assessment of food handling practices was not carried out “due to the identification of an imminent risk to health”.

The report said the manager was “willing to voluntarily close the business”, with a prohibition notice issued during the visit on October 22.

Following further revisits on October 25 and 26, the environmental health officer decided the shop had undertaken necessary works to remove “imminent risk to health”.

A certificate was given “confirming that the health risk no longer existed”, with the premises allowed to re-open.

But despite the “imminent risk” having been removed, the report, written on November 5, said it was likely pest activity was “still active”.

Until the contrary could be confirmed, it advised that the takeaway take a number of measures.

That included to look out for any dead carcasses and signs of activity such as fresh mouse droppings and shredded materials used for nesting and remove them if detected, as well as to ensure all surfaces are cleaned and disinfected.

It also said repairs had been carried out by the October 26 visit, and that regular inspections must now be carried out, including to look for and fill in entry points for mice.

In terms of National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme scores, with 25 the worst and 0 the best, the takeaway was given 25 for hygiene and structure. It was given a 30 for ‘confidence in management’ – the worst score in that category too.

The report revealed the manager of the business was also in charge of the site back in July 2016, when it was issued with a voluntary prohibition notice, as well as in July 2017, when a further “imminent risk to health” concerned mice and poor cleaning.

The report said: “I am concerned that despite knowing you had a problem with mice in the premises that you had failed to employ a pest contractor; failed to put suitable measures in place to protect food and food equipment and failed to undertake works necessary to repair the structure and therefore prevent access by pests.

“You must now ensure staff are suitably trained and supported financially to effectively manage the food business.”

If similar standards are identified again at future visits, “emergency prohibition notices” will be carefully considered, it said.

The takeaway was told it could add a ‘right of reply’ that would appear alongside the ‘zero’ rating on the Food Standards Agency website, but it does not appear to have done so.

Oriental Chef was also contacted for comment by the Local Democracy Service.