A NEWSAGENT has been slammed by food hygiene inspectors for not having working fridges and selling rotting fruit 'not fit for human consumption.'

Medina News & Halal Meat Centre in Cricket Road, Cowley was given a one star rating after an inspection in July and has been told it must improve or risk being shut down.

The shop's manager has pledged to make all the necessary changes and hopes to up the rating when it is re-inspected next month.

On their visit on July 10, inspectors found uncovered spring onions stored next to boxes of raw chicken in the shop's coldroom and that there was no sanitiser kept on the site to disinfect surfaces.

At the time of the visit, a display fridge containing 'high risk' foods including yoghurt and cheese was found not to be working.

A staff member was seen moving items into another working fridge but staff couldn't demonstrate that food had been maintained at a safe temperature prior to this.

The inspector wrote: "I was informed food is kept in the display fridge overnight.

"Therefore potentially high-risk food have been at unsafe temperatures for a long period of time.

"These foods should have been discarded when this was realised (they eventually were)."

Elsewhere inspectors raised concerns about the mangoes and apples on sale at the front of the shop.

These were deemed as being 'unfit for sale' and the shop was advised to carry out daily tests, removing food that shows clear evidence of spoilage.

The underside of a tarpaulin sheet that covered these fruit and vegetables was 'very dirty' and should be cleaned, according to inspectors who described being 'very disappointed' at the poor standards of cleaning throughout the shop.

Owners were recommended to undertake a thorough deep clean of the entire building.

Large bins in the rear yard were found to be overflowing with foul smells that could attract pests.

One of the few remaining amenities in the local area, the newsagent is opposite the site of the old Shelley Arms pub which is now being developed into housing by Keble Homes.

It sells confectionary, tobacco and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Manager Muhammed Qureshi told the Oxford Mail: "I've sent one member of staff on a food hygiene course and another will go when he gets back from holiday.

"We do clean every day and remove off vegetables.

"Our fridge is working and was only broken on the day in question."