A BAKERY in Willersey has been taken to court and fined for the second time in a year after failing to comply with food hygiene regulations.

Last August the Worcester News reported on La Tradition Ltd, trading as La Tradition and based at Willersey Industrial Estate, which was fined nearly £20,000 for putting the public's health at risk by operating in filthy conditions that led to an infestation of rats and mice.

Less than a year after the first prosecution Cotswold District Council officers carried out an unannounced food hygiene inspection of the premises, which led to them taking the business to court again.

Representatives from the business, which has retail outlets in Chipping Campden and Oxfordshire, appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Monday, (September 12), and pleaded guilty to six charges of failing to keep the premises clean and in a good state of repair.

The six offences included storing food in dirty and mouldy containers, mouldy fridges, a lack of a suitable hand washing facility and out of date food.

The council’s principal solicitor explained to magistrates that officers noted poor standards of hygiene at the company, and it was clear that they had not learned lessons from the previous prosecution.

Magistrates recognised there had been an early guilty plea, and works had carried out to improve cleanliness at the premises shortly after inspection, but the company was fined £24,000 - £4,000 for each of the six offences.

In addition the business was also ordered to pay £500 costs to the council, and a £150 victim surcharge.

After the hearing, Councillor Sue Coakley, Cotswold District Council's cabinet member for environment, said: “It is disappointing that this company was unable to learn from last year’s prosecution and that council officers have had to take this company to court for a second time, but it was clearly necessary in this instance to protect the health of the public.”

A La Tradition spokesman said: "In any bakery, due to the nature of the ingredients involved, i.e. the combination of steam and flour, constant attention to cleanliness and hygiene is paramount.

"We rely upon a team effort and have a rigorous training regime in place, however when the council visited, the team were in full service, i.e. the bakery was not at rest, and were operating minus a key member.

"We accept that standards were not as high as they should have been or as we would wish; the member of staff whose cleaning duties fell below standard has since been dismissed.

"We pride ourselves upon our quality and the cleanliness of our food preparation area and will continue to strive for high standards both individually and as a team.

"We would like it noted that we possess two separate hand washing stations at our bakery - both of which were in place at the time of the visit."