Inn the Park is fined over mice

One of London's celebrated restaurants has been fined £5,000 after the kitchen and food store were found to be overrun by mice.

Health and safety inspectors discovered dead mice and droppings at Inn the Park, owned by Oliver Peyton, who also runs the Dining Rooms at the National Gallery.

The restaurant was temporarily closed after the inspectors found the mice at the St James's restaurant, which opened to good reviews in 2004.

Health and safety chief at Westminster City council, Richard Block, said: "These are extremely serious food hygiene contraventions. Mice were running around the kitchen and corridors. Operators of all restaurants - however high profile - must take personal responsibility to ensure their business complies with the law."

The inspections were made in November 2006 and the restaurant was temporarily closed. A restaurant spokeswoman said: "We would like to stress that this was an isolated incident in 2006. We immediately rectified it and were given a clean bill of health." Management pleaded guilty to five offences at Westminster magistrates' court.