A MUSHROOM meal which came complete with the mushroom compost has landed a fast food take away in the New Forest area with a stiff letter from health watchdogs.

Environmental health manager Derek Roe said checks revealed that there was still some compost on the mushrooms, after the person who bought the meal contacted the environmental health department.

A warning went to a shop in the Forest which sold sausages beyond their use-by date, and advice was given to one that sold cakes past their best-before date. Mr Roe said that it was an offence to display or sell such items.