A COFFEE shop was closed by environmental health inspectors because of a cockroach infestation.

Coffee and Chat, in Forest Road, Walthamstow, was shut down by Waltham Forest Council last Thursday because of a serious German cockroach infestation and poor standard of hygiene.

A court order was made at Walthamstow Magistrates' Court on Friday and the coffee shop opened a day later once inspectors were satisfied owners had addressed the problems.

Waltham Forest Council's cabinet member for community safety, enforcement and protection, Cllr Afzal Akram, said “The owners and managers of food premises must take food safety seriously and make sure they manage it properly.

"We carry out a large number of unannounced spot checks on restaurant and we will not hesitate to close down premises that fail to meet the proper standards of hygiene.”

Anyone with concerns about a food business is asked to contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000.