A Chinese restaurant in Cambridge has been fined £2,000 for failing to meet fire safety standards.

Fire protection officers and environmental health officials from Cambridge City Council visited Tang Chinese Restaurant in Napier Street only to discover it was breaching 16 Fire Safety Orders, including converting the loft into accommodation with no fire exit.

Xueling Teng, owner of the restaurant, pleaded guilty to all charges last Thursday at Peterborough Magistrates Court and was told he could be fined tens of thousands of pounds.

However, due to the nature of Mr Teng's finances this was limited to £2,000, plus £1,000 costs.

The case emerged following close work between Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and Cambridge City Council.

Steve Cotton, head of fire protection for the fire service said: "These breaches were putting lives at risk. This prosecution should serve as a message to other business owners that the Fire Safety Order cannot be ignored - it is there to save lives."

Posted 30/04/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com