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A service station on the M40 has been forced to shut its food outlets after a plague of cockroaches wreaked havoc.

Four units in the Welcome Break services near Oxford were forced to close immediately.

KFC and Starbucks were among the quartet forced to pull down the shutters.

A criminal probe was launched into food hygiene offences potentially committed.

South Oxfordshire District Council labelled the cockroach infestation as “significant”.

An emergency investigation was also carried out by environmental health officers after a complaint was received from a member of the public.

District Judge Rana last week reviewed the evidence and statements provided by the officers and confirmed the imminent health risk on 20 May and was satisfied that the risk to health remained in place.

The judge made a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order and also awarded full costs of just over £3,000 to South Oxfordshire District Council.

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Paul Fielding, Head of Housing and Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “When we received the initial complaint, our Environmental Health officers took immediate action and carried out an investigation at Welcome Break Services and served the hygiene emergency prohibition notice requiring the temporary closure of the affected businesses.

“The infestation presented a signification risk of contamination and a serious risk to public health and I'm pleased that the District Judge has now endorsed the action our officers took.

“Our officers will continue conducting regular inspections at the site in order to protect public health.

“They are also working with Welcome Break to address the issue and supporting their efforts to reopen the impacted units as soon as possible.”

Issues with cockroaches have become increasingly common.

Pest experts have claimed they often creep across bedroom floors and under sofas in living rooms.

A mild winter and spring with high levels of rain has helped provide perfect conditions for the critters.

An infestation can set people back by as much as £260.

Bedford-based bug extermination firm EWS Group claimed the Oriental Cockroach and the German Cockroach were the most common in the UK.

The American cockroach and Brown Banded cockroach can also be seen across the country.

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