A restaurant owner has been fined £10,000 after serving a customer with a peanut allergy a meal containing peanut protein.

Nurul Hoque, owner of the Akash Tandoori on Tangier Street, Whitehaven, appeared before West Cumbria Magistrates today.

He pleaded guilty to an offence under the Food Safety Act 1990.

The offence came to light after Trading Standards responded to a complaint from a local resident whose son was taken to hospital after suffering anaphylactic shock after eating a takeaway meal ordered from the restaurant last year.

The court heard it had been specified when the takeaway was ordered that he suffered from a nut allergy and that his meal must be free from nuts.

Trading Standards sampled the same dish and under analysis it was found to contain peanut protein.

The public analyst confirmed that there was sufficient quantity to present a real hazard to anyone who suffered from a nut allergy.

Speaking after the case, John Greenbank, Trading Standards manager, said: "This sentence should act as a warning that cases like this are treated extremely seriously by the courts.

"The restaurant was aware of the issues surrounding allergies, having completed a food safety questionnaire in December 2014.

"The defendant was put on notice twice, 18 April 18 and 29, and despite this a customer was still put at risk on May 12 2015.”

Hoque was also ordered to pay £1,585 costs and an £120 surcharge.