A VERMIN infestation has seen a restaurant franchise with stores across the country forced to shut its Slough branch.

Perfect Pizza, in Slough High Street, has closed its doors with immediate effect after it was found to be infested with mice.

The franchise – which has 50 takeaway restaurants across the UK – was served a hygiene emergency prohibition notice on Thursday last week by Slough Borough Council’s food and safety enforcement officers who decided the infestation caused an imminent risk to public health.

On Monday, the notice was successfully converted to an order during a hearing at Slough Magistrates’ Court, closing the restaurant until hygiene is up to scratch and people eating there or taking away their pizzas are no longer at risk.

The operator of Perfect Pizza’s Slough branch was also ordered to pay the council’s costs of £775.83 within 28 working days.

Councillor Paul Sohal, commissioner for regulation and consumer protection, said: “An active mice infestation at Perfect Pizza meant that we had no other choice than to formally close the business until standards improve.

“I hope this serves as a warning to other food businesses that we take the safety of consumers very seriously.

“We won’t hesitate in shutting down any business that shows such a blatant disregard for the public’s health.”

This order comes after the owner of Perigano’s restaurant, in Farnham Road, Slough, was slapped with a hefty fine for food hygiene and safety offences at the end last month.