A HYGIENE emergency prohibition order has been served on a business near North Berwick.

East Lothian Council environmental health officers served a hygiene emergency prohibition notice on Stirling Stewart, operator of a food preparation unit at Halfland Barns Industrial Estate, to the south of the town, on August 23, resulting in the immediate closure of the premises.

The premises were not known to environmental health prior to visiting following a complaint from a member of the public.

Derek Oliver, service manager, protective services, said: “Officers found the premises in such a poor condition that it posed a serious risk to public health and they immediately closed it.

“The premises were filthy with a build-up of dirt and food debris, unclean food equipment, accumulation of waste and poor drainage.

“The food unit was being used to supply other food businesses operated by Mr Stewart in North Berwick.”

In a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, the Sheriff upheld the action of the environmental health officers and confirmed the actions to immediately close the premises were legally correct.

Mr Oliver added: “East Lothian Council’s environmental health officers will exercise their legal powers to protect public health within the county.

“We routinely inspect all food premises and expect them to comply with food hygiene regulations.

“In this case the premises were so dirty and structurally poor that they required to be closed immediately as they fell far below the legally required standards.”