INSPECTORS have given a Bournemouth restaurant the lowest possible food hygiene rating after finding its storeroom was infested with rats.

Chkn Station in Old Christchurch Road was given a zero rating by Bournemouth council after a health officer identified a number of failings at the end of January.

It has been ordered to bring in pest control experts to eradicate the rodent infestation in its basement storeroom which had been ongoing “for nearly three months” before the visit.

Concerns were also raised about staff not being able to properly wash their hands due to the high water temperature and the lack of overclothing for staff preparing meat.

The report highlights the lack of required food hygiene training and says that cleaning standards needed to be improved.

“You must take action to eradicate the rodent infestation inhabiting the basement store and preparation area which has been ongoing for nearly three months,” it says.

As a result of the issues found during January’s visit, the restaurant was given a zero rating – the lowest possible – through the Food Standards Agency’s hygiene rating scheme.

The council’s environmental health manager, Louise Jones, said the infested areas of the building had been closed off following the visit and that its advice has been followed by the restaurant’s management.

"Chkn Station was inspected on January 29 at which time the business was given a zero rating,” she said.

“The environmental health officer found a rodent infestation in a remote storage area.

“The food business operator took the decision to isolate and close this part of the business.

“The business has followed the officer’s advice to ensure that it is compliant with the requirements of food safety legislation."