A TOWN centre restaurant has been closed by food safety officers after a cockroach infestation was discovered at the premises.

A food safety team from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council carried out a routine inspection at Thai restaurant Lemongrass, in Church Street, on Monday, January 8.

Officers found a cockroach infestation and formally closed the venue, which opened in February 2005, immediately.

The closure decision was later ratified by an order from Basingstoke magistrates court. A sign was this week posted at the premises, stating that it was closed for service until further notice.

It said that the closure was due to a "risk of injury to health through an infestation of cockroaches".

Dorcas Bunton, corporate director at the borough council, said: "The restaurant will not be able to reopen until we are satisfied that the problem has been eradicated."

The owner of the restaurant Kovid Udyanin was not available for comment when The Gazette went to press on Thursday, January 18.