POSSIBLE mouse droppings have been discovered by food hygiene inspectors at an Oldham takeaway.

The council’s environmental health team visited Ashi's Food on Oxford Street,Oldham on February 19 and spotted “possible mouse droppings” at the “rear” of a freezer on the premises, according to a food safety report.

The report by inspectors added that if mouse droppings were indeed present, they would need to be “cleaned up” immediately and the area monitored.

Inspectors proceeded to give the shop a two-star rating, meaning improvements are necessary.

The report added that further cleaning was required as fridges within the rear food preparation areas were “dirty on the outside and inside” and all the bins were dirty on the outside.

The wall “outside” the toilet also needs immediate cleaning, as well as the “light switches, electrical points” and the floor and shelf to the rear of the chest freezer, according to the report.

The back yard, where oil cans and cardboard were found on the floor, also “needs to be cleaned”.

Aside from cleaning, DIY was also recommended with inspectors giving staff two months to “finish off the upper walls where the paint has come off” in the washing up area.

One week was meanwhile given to varnish the bare wood on one of the takeaway’s units next to the “toppings fridge”, where dirty cardboard is currently placed.

The report added that the temperature of the fridge, containing prepared salad and milk, also needs to be adjusted, it had a reading of 10.5 degrees Celsius rather than the maximum of 5 degrees Celsius on the milk carton.

Inspectors also noted that the door to the toilet was left open and staff were not wearing “protective clothing”.

A plastic lid was also found in the wash hand basin, which had no soap or towel to dry hands with.

Staff at Ashi’s Food were reportedly “unable to show current paperwork” and did not know if they had current records, the report continued.

The food safety report concluded with the line: “Revisit to be made. Need to meet with owner to discuss the standards.”

The takeaway was contacted by The Oldham Times, but the owner was not available to provide a comment before the paper went to print.