A cockroach infestation in Borehamwood has forced one eaterie and a business to temporarily shut down.

The problem was first reported to environmental health officials at Hertsmere Borough Council last month, with the source soon confirmed as being the flats above a parade of shops along Shenley Road.

But the outbreak, which has seen the potentially disease-carrying insects invade commercial and residential premises, left bosses at Caledonia Chicken and Ribs with no option but to cease trading for three days last week to get rid of the vermin.

And on Wednesday the manager of Select Appointments decided to shut down until next Tuesday to eradicate the problem.

Kiri Vijayasingam, manager of the takeaway, said he notified the council’s environmental health team last month after finding the creatures in his store room.

Pest controllers were sent out, but Mr Vijayasingam shut down the business last week for the place to be fully cleaned.

He said: “I tried to get in touch with the flat owner above but we aren’t getting any response. When we closed the business we lost a lot of customers and they still haven’t come back. It’s frustrating because it’s not our fault. Whatever the council has asked us to do we’ve done. We feel we’ve suffered for something that isn’t our fault.”

At Select Appointments recruitment firm, the cockroaches were first spotted in the kitchen.

Debbie Joseph, executive manager of the office, took the decision to temporarily relocate to the company’s premises in Welwyn Garden City while the cockroaches were being dealt with.

She said: “It’s been a living nightmare. It has now become unbearable. It is a really miserable working environment and is unnerving.

“Our priority is to address this issue so we can proceed with business as quickly as possible. We’re confident that now the issue is being addressed we won’t have any further problems in the future.”

A spokeswoman for the orough council said: “We received a report of a possible cockroach problem in Shenley Road on August 27. On investigation, it appeared that cockroaches had come from homes above the business.

“We have been working with the landlord and pest control treatments have been used at the site.

“The owners fully cooperated with environmental health officers and agreed to temporarily close their business to allow for remedial works. The business has now reopened following a re-inspection by environmental health staff.”

The landlord was unavailable for comment.