TAKEAWAY has been closed by a judge after inspectors found mouldy onion bhajis and meat with an offensive odour which was deemed “unfit for human consumption”.

The Nile, in Bradshawgate, Bolton town centre, had failed to comply with hygiene standards for years.

Environmental health staff repeatedly visited the takeaway, giving advice and issuing improvement notices.

Complaints included an unclean floor, damaged shelves in a fridge and a freezer that did not shut properly.

Judge Timothy Clayson, at Bolton Crown Court yesterday, made a prohibition order preventing The Nile from being used for any food businesses after a “long history of non-compliance”.

Partners in the business Abid Patel, aged 28, Sajid Patel, aged 20, and Tahir Patel, aged 30, all of Belmont Road, had earlier admitted a series of hygiene failures.

Sophie Cartwright, prosecuting, said hygiene notices were first issued by Bolton Council on December 16, 2010.

After further visits, conditions had improved but the men were still not complying with food safety management systems and hazard analysis had not been carried out.

A hygiene noticed was issued on December 24, 2010, because an oven needed to be cleaned thoroughly and repairs were needed. But the work had not been carried out a month later.

A mouldy onion bhaji was bagged up by council staff on a visit on April 6 — but was removed when they turned their backs.

Other mouldy bhajis and the cooked meat, which is believed to have been sold to a customer, were found in October last year.

Phillip Parry, defending Abid Patel, the business’ licence holder, said the offence was down to his inexperience.

He was now working at another family-run takeaway in Chorley.

William Donnelly, defending Sajid Patel, said his role in the business was more “ministerial than managerial”.

Peter Cunliffe, for Tahir Patel, said he worked there to support his wife and two children.

Judge Clayson said: “Really no efforts had been made to bring it up to standard.”

Abid Patel was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work after admitting six counts of failing to comply with hygiene improvement notices and three counts of having food that was unfit for human consumption. He was ordered to pay £1,250 court costs.

Sajid Patel will complete 150 hours of unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with hygiene improvement notices and three counts of having food that was unfit for human consumption.

He was ordered to pay £1,250 court costs.

Tahir Patel admitted three counts of having food that was unfit for human consumption.

He will carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 costs.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “The order remains in place until the council issues a certificate to the effect that they are satisfied that the food business operator has taken sufficient measures to remove the health risk conditions.”