A CHINESE takeaway which received a complaint of chewing gum in chips and used a can opener "encrusted with food" has been given a one star food hygiene rating.

Silver City in Upton was also found to have no hand soap available to staff, presenting huge risks of bacterial contamination.

The most concerning finding in the report was two complaints the council had received about Silver City from its customers.

One customer said they found chewing gum in their salt and pepper chips.

Another found undercooked chicken in their meal.

Plenty more unhygienic practices were discovered by inspectors.

The blade of the takeaway’s heavy-duty can opener was "encrusted with food".

The report said this would cause contamination of the food in the next tin opened.

The painted ceiling covering in the main food room was stained with grease.

The report listed many other areas of the premises it found to be unclean.

They included wall tiles around the sink, the wash hand basin – particularly around the taps, light switches, plug sockets, door handles, and worryingly, the worktop where meals were being prepared.

Inspectors also found a used spoon in a food container in the chiller, where the handle was in the food itself.

This is all the more concerning given the report noted two complaints of suspected food poisoning from the takeaway’s customers.

Silver City’s storage was found to present contamination risks.

Inspectors found cooked meats left out in the kitchen at room temperature.

Beef and chicken pieces were stored at well over the maximum safe temperature of 8°C. As the report stated, these foods are “high risk and will support the growth of food poisoning bacteria”.

Liquid egg and fried rice were also wrongly stored at room temperature.

The inspector said a small amount of liquid egg can be stored in a designated jug, but the rest must be put in the fridge until it is ready to use.

Freezer food was not properly wrapped and some of it was not wrapped at all, leaving it wide open to cross contamination.

In the fridge, cooked duck was stored next to raw chicken and burgers, on a shelf above other ready to eat food.

To solve these problems, the inspector said a full deep clean of the restaurant is required.

Better staff training was also called for, to ensure they know how to store food safely.

Proper labelling and storing of food was the other key area the inspector told the shop it must improve on.

Silver City has been approached for comment.