A restaurateur must pay nearly £60,000 in fines after admitting a string of food safety failings.

Routine inspections at Old Vienna in Eastwood Road, Leigh, revealed congealed dirt, broken glass, and cooked food left unrefrigerated.

The proprietor, Walter Haiser, 76, admitted food safety breaches at Southend Magistrates’ Court.

Southend Borough Council said Mr Haiser had been “failing to comply” for some time.

The council said the business sold unfit food, failed to comply with improvement notices issued by environmental health officers and failed to provide essential information, despite repeated requests.

The Southend Echo also reported the restaurant’s food safety rating sank to zero.