GREASE coated work surfaces, uncovered raw meat, no handwashing facilities and drinking water covered in algae.

That was the scene that greeted environmental health officers on a routine inspection of a popular burger van in Fareham.

They described a scene of dirt and filth inside the mobile catering van belonging to Turkish born Yusuf Ozdemir, of Jade Court, Gosport.

Pitched outside the Prague Junction nightclub and Fareham station, the burger van was regularly used by commuters and late night revellers and was the subject of a planning row two years ago when Ozdemir wanted to keep his late-night opening hours.

An inspection by Fareham Council revealed a catalogue of food safety breaches that yesterday saw Ozdemir in court facing summonses under the Food Safety Act, each one carrying a possible £5,000 fine.

Fareham Magistrates' Court heard how the mobile van owned by Ozdemir for the past 12 years was visited unannounced by environmental health officers on December 4.

Representing Fareham Council, Karen Rickwood read through a series of food safety breaches that led to the prosecution.

They included:

Pipes, surfaces and chipboard surrounding a hole where a sink used to be congealed in grease and dirt.

Dirty shelves in fridges and freezers.

No handwashing facilities despite staff handling raw and cooked meat.

A hole in the floor directly on to the pavement that could be accessed by vermin and rodents.

Water containers used for customers' drinks covered in algae and without lids.

Mrs Rickwood said: "By not having handwashing facilities there is a serious risk of contamination. There were also no facilities for washing equipment either. However, a dirty mop and bucket were there."

She added that although a subsequent visit to the burger van showed improvements had been made to an acceptable standard it was still in the 'high risk' category of food establishments and was subject to six-monthly inspections.

Mitigating for Ozdemir, who pleaded guilty to all ten charges of failing to keep his catering van clean, solicitor Philip Gibbons said his client was the sole breadwinner for his three children and wife and could not survive without the business.

"He did put in place all the recommendations made by the officers within the seven day period from when his premises were first inspected," he said.

Ozdemir was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £165 towards the cost of the case.