A Stevenage town centre kebab shop that was forced to close due to a rat infestation reopened yesterday after hygiene inspectors approved the team’s premises clean-up.

Mega Kebab & Pizza, in Queensway, reopened after a hygiene emergency prohibition order was lifted – a week after it was imposed by magistrates pending a deep clean of the premises.

Mega Kebab owner Fouad Abdelnaby told the Comet this morning that everything had been refurbished and that he would be offering a discount of 30 per cent to customers for the next week.

“The inspectors have been here and have been happy with what we’ve done,” he said.

“We’ve renewed everything. We’ll be giving good offers to customers now, including a discount of 30 per cent for the food over the next week.”

The borough council confirmed that the shop had received the all-clear following a second inspection and that the court order was lifted yesterday, meaning Mega Kebab & Pizza could open again.

Court papers indicate that hygiene officers found rat droppings under the display fridge in the front shop area, next to the chiller motor of the refrigerated display unit, under the dough mixer in the preparation area, next to a hole in the wall of a boxed-in void, behind the pizza make-up table, on top of the gas meter at the back of the premises, in the storage area for disposable food containers, and next to the wash-up sink unit.

The court also ordered Mr Abdelnaby to pay costs of £984 to the borough council.

Council environmental health officers visit food premises regularly and assess them on three areas – hygiene, structure and confidence in management.

Each area is then given a score and these are used to calculate a rating on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom – which requires urgent improvement – to a top rating of five, which is very good.

The rating does not reflect the quality of food or the standard of service. As part of the scheme, food businesses are given a window sticker showing the rating achieved.