An Indian restaurant in Surbiton has been forced to close after hygiene inspectors found a cockroach infestation was contaminating the food.

Miah, manager at Sarada Restaurant in Ewell Road, told Surrey Comet work to resolve the issue has nearly finished, and the restaurant will undergo a total refurbishment once planning issues are sorted in the next few months, so customers need not worry in the future.

Environmental health officers from Kingston Council visited the restaurant on March 14 after a customer reported finding a cockroach in their poppadoms.

They found evidence of “an extensive and active” cockroach infestation, as well as “poor” pest proofing in the kitchen, with built-up grease providing a food source for the vermin.

The owner was served with an Emergency Hygiene Prohibition Notice, forcing the business to close.

At Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, an Emergency Prohibition Order was served, meaning the restaurant must stay closed until owners can demonstrate to the council that suitable cleaning and pest control practices are in place.

Miah said the restaurant had been taken over in the past couple of months, and the new owners are pushing on with efforts to refurbish the restaurant.

He said they hope the restaurant will reopen in two weeks, with about £15,000 having been spent on cleaning, and the restaurant will undergo a makeover with a six-figure budget, the owners hope by the end of 2018.