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Five food businesses, including vegetarian restaurant Delhi Wala in South Asians-dominated area of London Southall, were temporarily closed following hygiene investigations by Council officials.

Delhi Wala, the vegetarian restaurant at King Street in Southall, was forced to close temporarily after live rats, mice and cockroaches were found on the premises. Officers were further shocked to find mouse and rat droppings and dead cockroaches in the kitchen and food storage areas.

In another instance, food inspectors found a group of mice running around inside a box used to store takeaway packs at Southall's 2 in 1 Pizza place at Lady Margaret Road. That's not all. Further inspection revealed German cockroach infestation and rodent faeces inside pizza boxes.

The council's investigation into food hygiene standards at these food businesses came after one customer complained of finding a cockroach in their food.

Similar rodent activity and severe lack of food hygiene was exposed at other Southall-based eateries including Palm Palace and Rays restaurant.

Separately, Ealing council officers unearthed mouse infestation at Acton-based butcher and grocer -- Al Rafidain. Some bags of rice and food packets on shop shelves were seen to be chewed on and gnawed at by rodents.

Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for community services and safety, described the food businesses as "truly disgusting" and "unsafe".

Some of the businesses were allowed to reopen since their closure in February after they met hygiene standards.

Here's the video of mice and cockroach-infested food joints in Southall:

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