A family’s Indian takeaway has been forced to close after they claim failure to fix a phone line cost them thousands of pounds.

The takeaway, Polash in Martello Drive, Hythe, was closed last week after health and safety officers from Shepway District Council visited over concerns an electrical generator was being used.

Mazdul Islam, 21, said his family had lost about £30,000 from the business after their two phone lines went down before Christmas, leading customers to believe the business was shut already.

Mr Islam said this resulted in them being unable to pay their electricity bills and so brought in the generator to power their premises.

But after safety fears when smoke was seen coming from the generator, the family closed the business following a meeting with Shepway officers.

"People think it’s gone somewhere else. My dad worked so hard to put us in a nice place. It’s closed indefinitely. It’s all just going down and down and I don’t think BT are taking it seriously" - Mr Islam

Mr Islam's father, Anwar Miah set up the business in 2001 after running the Curry Garden restaurant in Folkestone after moving to the town from Bangladesh in 1986.

Mr Islam said BT had failed to fix the line on 10 occasions and the family have now written to it seeking compensation for the loss of earnings since the problems started on December 18.

Mr Islam told the Express customers were unable to get through to them during the Christmas period – the busiest time of the year when 80% of orders are placed by phone.

“People think it’s gone somewhere else,” Mr Islam said. “My dad worked so hard to put us in a nice place.

“It’s all just going down and down and I don’t think BT are taking it seriously.

“We had plans for the future but it’s all gone down the drain.

“We’ve lost our bread and butter and they claim it was fixed 10 times.”

He added: “I can understand where Shepway council are coming from. You have to consider other people.

“But it’s just the fact a company cannot sort things out.”

A BT spokesman said: “BT received the claim for compensation on February 18 and it is currently under review.”

The company said it was unable to comment further until after a decision had been made.