A fast-food takeaway has been fined nearly £10,000 after live cockroaches were found inside the premises.

Star Takeaway, in Hutton Road, Shenfield, admitted six offences concerning the Food Safety Regulations at a Basildon Magistrates' Court hearing.

The restaurant's owner and proprietor, Halil Dervis Ali, was fined £1,600 for each of the six charges - a total of £9,600.

The offences included the presence of live and dead cockroaches, the presence of dirt, grease, food debris and other rubbish on the floors and walls, damage to the refrigerator door seal and food debris and grease inside the refrigerators.

Mr Ali was also ordered to pay £1,095 towards the costs of the prosecution, which took place following an inspection of the takeaway - next door to Shenfield railway station - in July 2005.

Brentwood Council head of environmental health Simon Bennett said the inspection had taken place after a customer found a dead cockroach in his kebab.

He said: "We discovered an active infestation of cockroaches, and the general standard of cleanliness was not up to the standards that either the Government or the council require.

"To be fair to Mr Ali, he voluntarily closed the premises for six days for pest control to be carried out, but it was felt that it was in the public interest to proceed with the prosecution."

Mr Ali was not available for comment, but one member of staff said the owner had been "very upset" by the incident and had taken steps to improve hygiene standards at his premises