The boss of an award winning all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet has been fined £12,000 after his restaurant was found infested with mice.

Wen He, 41, closed down Imperial City in Oldham after council inspectors discovered rodent droppings on work surfaces, and live animals scurrying in the kitchen.

Conditions were so terrible that a visiting official actually recoiled from the smell.

As manager of Imperial City, which won a "best restaurant in Oldham" award in 2007, he had put his customers at serious risk of food poisoning, a court heard.

There were flies buzzing around the work surfaces and mould was growing on chopping boards.

The chefs and staff were wearing their normal clothes, with no aprons or protective overalls, and there was no running hot water for the wash basin.

His defence team said that, as manager, the defendant was guilty, but he had delegated kitchen hygiene duties to his head chef.

He, a father, formerly of Yorkshire Street, Oldham, admitted six charges of failing to comply with general hygiene requirements.

He was fined a total of 12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,700.

Inspectors from Oldham Council visited Imperial City, on Yorkshire Street in Oldham, on Saturday, August 18, last year.

William Donnelly, prosecuting, told the court: “Council representatives found a significant, active mouse infestation. There were mouse droppings throughout the kitchen, on the floor, on a gas cooker and next to some

food. There were a number of flies buzzing around the kitchen area.”

Mr Donnelly added that on several occasions, inspectors had found live mice in the kitchen.

He added: “One of the inspectors said that the smell was such that she recoiled from certain areas of the kitchen. The nature of her work means that she's used to unpleasant smells in any event.”

Mr Donnelly said that workers were not wearing protective clothing, and chopping boards were split and mouldy, with old food caught inside.

Imperial City had won a “best restaurant in Oldham” award in 2007, but was shut for three days in September 2010 after inspectors found a mouse infestation, it was said.

Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard how He, who also manages an Imperial City in Middlesbrough, had delegated responsibility for kitchen hygiene in the Oldham restaurant to his head chef. The front of house areas were clean and tidy, it was said.

William Staunton, defending, said: “When he discovered the dreadful standards that had occurred he said he'd rather close his business down than provide unhealthy food to the public. He found out who was responsible and fired many of the staff.”

The Imperial City in Middlesbrough was given a four star hygiene rating by local council officers, Mr Staunton added.

Oldham councillor Jean Stretton said after the hearing: "To protect the health and safety of our residents we will not hesitate to take action in cases like these. Restaurant owners who run food establishments must comply

with food hygiene laws or be prepared to face the consequences.”

Judge Timothy Mort ordered that Imperial City in Oldham cannot reopen, even under new management, until inspectors have given it the all clear.