A TANDOORI restaurant has been fined £2,500 after staff used a faulty microwave oven which could have led to exposure to microwave radiation.

Staff at the Shaheen Tandoori in Easton Street, High Wycombe, used the oven even though a hole had burnt through the door, Wycombe Magistrates Court heard.

The restaurant had pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the broken microwave.

The restaurant was charged with not ensuring the health and safety of their employees, not providing a microwave suitable for heavy commercial use and for failing to maintain the equipment in a safe condition.

The court heard how a hole had burnt through the door of the oven which could have led to exposure of employees to microwave radiation.

The offending item was seized during a visit to the premises by Wycombe District Council health and safety inspectors who brought the prosecution.

On sentencing, the court took into account that the company had replaced the microwave with a more suitable one and that they had not intentionally used the oven in a dangerous condition.

They also took into account that the employees had not brought the matter to the management's attention.

Sirajul Islam, manger of the restaurant owned by Sell-On-Ltd, said: "We have done everything we can to ensure that this will never happen again. We are sorry to our staff and customers for allowing this situation to develop. We continue to to make ever effort to bring Wycombe the very best in Indian food."

The company was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £934 costs.