EMERGENCY powers have been used to close a Runcorn kebab shop after it was found to be using ‘unsafe’ gas and had no hot running water to maintain hygiene standards.

A council notice was placed in the window of Runcorn Kebab House on High Street, notifying the public that the premises had been shut by order of environmental health officers due to the breaches.

The notice said there was no hot water supply to any of the equipment sinks or hand wash basins on the premises.

This meant there was no hot water for proper hand washing or cleaning of food preparation areas, cooking utensils and cleaning equipment, which inspectors said posed ‘significant risk’ of cross-contamination to food made on the premises.

The council said the hot water heating system was not working due to the gas supply being disconnected, and also found evidence ‘unsafe’ LPG gas had been used instead.

A spokeswoman for Halton Borough Council confirmed it had closed the establishment.

She said: “It has been closed down using emergency food hygiene powers for not having a supply of hot running water and as a consequence, there were inadequate facilities to clean and disinfect the premises and equipment or for personal hygiene.”

She said the council had also served a notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 prohibiting the use of an unsafe LPG gas installation which she said was being used as an alternative to mains gas.

She added: “The premises will have to remain closed until both issues are resolved.”