Restaurant owners were accused of showing “a complete disregard” for health and safety after rat and mouse infestations were discovered.

Funky Brownz, a restaurant and shisha lounge in Edgware Road, West Hendon, had its licence revoked at a Barnet Council licensing sub-committee meeting in Hendon Town Hall on Monday.

Janet Mead, a council environment officer, told the meeting how evidence of rat and mouse faeces and urine had been discovered on the floor and in the bar area during an inspection last November.

Officers also explained that the restaurant suffered from flooding and had no hot water.

Ms Mead said there had been 11 separate interventions to Funky Brownz, and added: “Unfortunately the owners and managers have not complied. They have shown a complete disregard for health and safety and the law. Staff and customers were at risk.

“Very little has been done to make any improvement. 11 interventions in that space of time is unprecedented. We have tried encouraging, informing and explaining the law. They are not interested.”

Shankar Sivashankar, from Compliance Direct Ltd, representing the restaurant’s owners, told the meeting: “What was found is indefensible for my clients. There is no way I am going to say what happened was right. There’s no defence from our end.

“My clients are proud business owners and they are ashamed. We are taking every step to comply.”

Although a pest control report on January 19 stated that there were no signs of any infestations, the licence was revoked.