A Croydon caf has been hit with a hefty £8,000 fine after an investigation found the premises to be dirty and infested with vermin and cockroaches, posing an imminent risk to public health.

Orhan Arslan and Memet Bezgimsoy, the owners of Fiveways Eating House on Purley Way, pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to have adequate procedures in place to control pests at Croydon Magistrates Court on September 15.

Earlier this year two food safety officers went to the caf and met with the owner to carry out an inspection after reports of rats around the premises and it soon became clear there were no adequate pest control measures in place.

In the kitchen area dead and live German cockroaches were found and insects were crawling across the floors and walls. Officers removed the ventilation grill attached to the chest freezer and cockroaches were seen moving frantically in and out of the grill.

There was also a build up of debris and dirt, with cockroach faeces all over the cover.

The premises were shut down immediately with a voluntary closure.

Mr Arslan and Mr Bezgimsoy, the respective director and company secretary of Fiveways Eating House, claimed they were unaware of the infestation of cockroaches in the premises before the food safety officers visited.

Magistrates fined Mr Arslan and Mr Bezgimsoy and also fined the company, a combined total of £8,000. Costs of £2,650 were awarded to the council.