A restaurant that was closed by inspectors after rodent corpses were found littered around the food preparation area is to reopen.

Sinburi Thai Restaurant on High Road in Leytonstone was closed on December 18 last year when Waltham Forest Council food officers found dead mice in the food preparation and storage area.

The restaurant owners have said the mice infestation was due to hiring a poor pest control service.

They have since replaced this service, renovated the storage room and cleaned the property thoroughly.

The venue was re-inspected and given permission to reopen at the beginning of February.

It will officially reopen its doors to the public on Friday (March 8).

It is the first reported incident of its kind since the family-run business took over the business 19 years ago.

Restaurant owner Sirichai Kularbwong said: "We have had this restaurant for 19 years and we have always had a high rating till now and it’s been the most humiliating, infuriating and depressing time. We messed up in a situation which was worsened because we placed our trust in a person who did not do their job correctly. And for all of that, we are sorry.

"We have taken every precaution, we have hired new reputable services, we have renovated the store room and we passed inspection last February but haven’t opened yet because my mother and I are just trying to rest from the stress of having to solely deal with the problem during this difficult period.

"Our close friends and customers know that we are not irresponsible people. They’ve all offered to help countless times but we’ve always refused. We care about what we do and we just want to get back to work and carry on with our lives."

Thames Magistrates’ Court confirmed the closure of the restaurant on December 20 and awarded the council costs of £864.00.