A CAFE where an assistant allegedly crushed a live cockroach on the counter in front of a horrified customer is banned from serving food by Ealing Council until it cleans up its act.

Kavah Café at 73 New Broadway, Ealing was inspected on August 28 after the customer complained to the borough’s food safety team.

The inspection uncovered live cockroaches in a glass, a toaster and in cupboards, along with mouse faeces on work surfaces and cupboards.

There was also no hot water on the premises, so staff could not properly wash their hands or equipment.

Kavah Café was issued with an emergency notice for its immediate closure as a food business - though it can still operate as a shisha lounge and internet café – until Ealing Council is satisfied the imminent risk to health has been removed.

Kavah Café’s operators, Trishan (London) Ltd, were also ordered by Ealing Magistrates Court to pay £580.91 towards council legal costs.

Ealing’s inspectors also visited Brothers Kebab restaurant at 178 South Ealing Road on August 22 at the request of police and discovered rat droppings in the kitchen food preparation areas, dirty conditions throughout and a large hole in the kitchen ceiling.

The business was forced to close until work was completed to remove the risk to health and it re-opened on August 26 after inspectors made a return examination and were satisfied it was safe.

The owners of Brothers Kebab, Gorur Ltd, were also ordered by the court to pay £638.96 towards council legal costs.

Ealing’s deputy leader, Cllr Ranjit Dheer, said: “Imagine going out for a coffee and seeing a cockroach scurrying across the counter.

"I don’t know what’s more shocking, that or the casual way the member of staff at Kavah Café reacted to it?”