A BAKERY chain with a branch in Gorse Hill must pay thousands of pounds in fines and costs after hygiene inspectors found shelves full of mouldy food filling its Stroud store’s fridge.

Fruit, cartons of cream, tins of fruit, egg yolk and a tub labelled sourdough starter were covered in what inspectors described as “extensive mould growth” - and one item in stock was almost three months out of date.

Timothy Hall of J Hall and Sons (Bakers) Ltd pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to failing to properly implement its food safety management system.

Stroud District Council’s head of health and wellbeing Jon Beckett said: “Food inspectors always act quickly to ensure that poor standards of food hygiene are dealt with and most businesses respond well.

“However, it is occasionally necessary to take legal action to deal with the worst cases and appropriate measures were taken in this case to ensure future compliance.”

The bakery in Woodchester, called Hall’s Quality Bakers, failed to impress council hygiene teams sent in to check if its snacks were sanitary.

The bakery’s Stroud branch had been served a hygiene improvement notice in February 2018 but had not improved when inspectors returned in January.

The council took Mr Hall to court and he admitted before magistrates at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court to breaching food safety management legislation.

He was fined a total of £3,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170 and must pay Stroud District Council’s full costs of £3,233.25.

In a statement, Halls said: "J Hall and Son Bakers Ltd wish to express our deepest regrets that this issue has arisen.

"We would like to ensure that all our customers are aware of our full Health and Hygiene Schedules in place along with external audits that take place throughout the year.

"If there are any concerns and questions please feel free to contact the main office on 01453 833321  ask for John, Tim or Richard."

J Hall and Son (Bakers) Ltd has a Swindon branch on Cricklade Road. Other outlets along with the Stroud and Swindon branches are in Nailsworth, Tetbury and Cirencester.