One council officer described the filthy findings as 'one of worst cases they have ever dealt with in 30 years'

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Cockroaches were seen scuttling across the serving counter - and in pizza delivery bags - at a south Manchester takeaway when environmental health inspectors visited.

The inspection at Love Krispy in Wythenshawe - carried out when the takeaway was open - uncovered what the council called 'an extensive cockroach infestation throughout the premises'.

The business is now under new management.

One shocked environmental health officer described the filthy findings as 'one of worst cases they have ever dealt with in 30 years', the town hall said.

Photographs released by the council reveal the extent of the health risks identified.

An uncovered bucket of mayonnaise was discovered standing in a pool of raw chicken juices.

The council said it also identified 'evidence of serious cross contamination issues' with ready-to-eat foods stored next to raw meat.

Elsewhere, officers found live cockroaches in and around pizza delivery bags, on the floor around drinks cans and on cooking equipment, including the pizza oven, Manchester city council said.

'Numerous' dead cockroaches were also said by the council to be 'littering the floor all through the food storage rooms'.

Environmental health inspectors visited the takeaway on Royal Oak Road, Baguley, on August 1, 2018, to carry out a food safety inspection following the receipt of an anonymous complaint.

As a result and following a council-led prosecution, the then owner of Love Krispy, Rizwan Baig, pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations Act 2013, the council said.

At Manchester Crown Court on January 31, Mr Baig was jailed for two months, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay court costs of £3,126, the council said.

Other 'serious food safety concerns' were found - including a dirty ice cream machine, deep fat fryer and all the fridges, added the town hall in a statement.

The council said Mr Baig agreed to close the business until the infestation was under control, and standards and food safety practices were satisfactorily improved.

The takeaway is now under new management.

More than 100 of the insects were killed in a subsequent deep clean, according to the council.

"The takeaway was allowed to reopen on September 3, 2018, subject to the owner maintaining regular pest treatments and good cleaning standards and food safety practices," the council said.

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, the council's executive member for neighbourhoods, said in the wake of the case: "The council takes food safety extremely seriously and will not hesitate to take robust action against food businesses which put the public at risk.

"We hope this case sends out a strong message to other businesses about the importance of maintaining high standards of food safety at all times.

"I would encourage anyone concerned about the hygiene of any food establishment to get in contact with the council so we can ensure standards are adhered to in order to protect public health."

The Manchester Evening News contacted Love Krispy for comment.

We were told the takeaway is now under new management - although the name remains the same.

New owner Jameel Chaudhry said he bought the business in 2019 and wasn't aware of the prosecution.

"We take our cleanliness very seriously - that is our main priority," he told the M.E.N.

"We have turned it around enormously.

"The restaurant was at a zero star rating. I have changed it to a three star and I have applied for a re-score.

"I have worked so hard to try to make a go of this business. Our aim is to get it up to a five star rating."