ROTTING meat on the floor, worktops caked in grease, and flies in the food – these were the shocking conditions inside a Wirral takeaway.

Staff at Oriental Palace in Heswall were repeatedly warned to ensure proper cleaning measures were in placed – but when asked on a recent inspection, the owner admitted no cleaning had been done in weeks, stating: "I am lazy”.

Officers visited the eatery in December and found ‘filthy conditions throughout’ among other issues that presented ‘significant risk to human health.’

Inspectors uncovered rotting food with insects and flies inside as well as mouldy chopping boards and filthy hand contact points such as sockets and light switches.

The Telegraph Road venue was rated zero star by environmental health officers, who said their confidence in the vendor as a food operator was ‘extremely low’.

The following standards were recorded –

Hygienic food handling: Urgent improvement necessary

Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building: Urgent improvement necessary

Management of food safety: Major improvement necessary

Oriental Palace has been approached for further comment.