A BAKERY owner has been prosecuted for hygiene offences.

The Vale environmental health team successfully prosecuted the owner of Cottage Bakery in Penarth, Les Middleton for four offences under food hygiene regulations.

At Cardiff Magistrates Court last week environmental health officer Rowan Hughes said: “During an inspection on June 19, 2013 environmental health officers discovered very poor food hygiene standards at Cottage Bakery.

"These included a lack of cleaning, inadequate maintenance, inadequate temperature control and cross contamination issues.

"Our officers also found there to be no food safety management system in place as is required by law.”

After pleading guilty to the offences, Middleton was ordered to pay a £250 fine for each of the four offences as well as £1000 costs and a surcharge of £25.

Vale Council leader Neil Moore commented: “This prosecution sends out a clear signal that we will take robust action when the public are put at risk by poor food hygiene.

"All premises preparing and selling food must display their most recent food hygiene rating.

"I would encourage Vale residents to check these so that they can purchase food in the Vale with confidence."

Cottage Bakery scored a rating of one out of five under the Food Hygiene Rating system. The premises has since been refurbished.