PREMISES preparing and serving food have been warned they face serious consequences if they fail to meet legal health standards.

Proprietors were reminded of their obligations in the wake of a £7,000 fine levied on the owners of a Stourport hotel after several guests went down with a food poisoning-type illness.

Anne Hingley, Wyre Forest District Council's cabinet member with responsibility for health and environment, said: "Eating establishments have a big responsibility to provide hygienic conditions in which to prepare and serve food.

"This prosecution shows that there are serious consequences when this trust is abused."

Kidderminster magistrates ordered Windash Limited, owner of the Swan Hotel in Stourport, to pay £1,718 in costs, in addition to the £7,000 fine, after more than half the members of the bowling group suffered the illness, following a stay at the hotel in May, 2005.

The court was told a council officer and the district's principal environmental health officer visited the hotel, on High Street, following a complaint from a member of the Somerset-based club.

Inspections by the officers revealed dirty conditions and no hot water for hand washing in the kitchen. Fixtures and fittings in and next to the kitchen were also not in a condition to allow them to be cleaned adequately.

The floor was dirty, with debris accumulated under work surfaces and the walls were grimy near the area where fresh food was prepared.

A representative of Windash Limited pleaded guilty to offences under The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995.

The company was fined £2,500 for a dirty kitchen, £3,000 for the lack of hot water for hand washing and £1,500 for dirty fixtures and fittings.