A Chinese takeaway has been shut down after health experts found cockroaches, mice droppings, filthy hobs smeared in grease and food left to cool inches from bags of rubbish.
The Golden Dragon in Plaistow, east London, was closed on the spot after the catalogue of flagrant health and safety breaches was discovered.
The East End fast food outlet was officially closed by court order by Stratford magistrates last Friday.
"It's one of the worst cases I've seen in 12 years," said Matthew Collins, principal environmental health officer for Newham Council.
Mr Collins said the takeaway posed a serious risk of food poisoning and contamination of food amid a total lack of management.
The council team had a tip-off last month that the premises were in a terrible state.
But environmental health officer Edward King twice found the shutters down and the building apparently closed.
"On the third visit, Mr King stood on the other side of the road and watched a man leave the premises with a bag that looked like one used for transporting hot food.
"He knocked on the shutter and went in - as he was entitled to do - and found it in an awful condition," added Mr Collins.
"There was a risk of food poisoning as well as contamination from the droppings and cockroaches."
The Golden Dragon was served a notice to stop trading immediately but not before it had taken orders online.
Some 31 businesses have been shut in Newham this year as the council cracks down on restaurants and takeaways with shocking hygiene.
The owners of the Golden Dragon will get the chance to reopen if they can deep clean their takeaway from top to bottom, impose proper pest control and set new health and safety standards.
The owners of the restaurant could not be contacted for comment.
