A Chinese takeaway is under threat of closure after a customer found a wing nut in a portion of crispy seaweed.

David Wen, 52, pleaded guilty to five charges relating to food standards at Happy Times in Larkfield, when he appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court today.

The London Road takeaway currently has a food hygiene rating of one out of five, following an inspection on June 20, which found a "major improvement" was necessary in its management of food safety.

Little over a month after that visit, the court was told how a diner found the nut, believed to be from a piece of machinery, in a portion of the cabbage-based dish.

Wen admitted the charge of selling food not of the nature demanded by the purchaser, as well as charges of failing to keep food premises clean and maintained, failing to clean and disinfect equipment and failing to protect food against contamination.

He also admitted using a vegetable chopper without relevant guarding to prevent access to dangerous moving parts.

An application for a prohibition order was made by lawyers for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, however representatives for Wen pleaded with magistrates not to force the takeaway to close.

"This application has a very serious impact, not just on Mr Wen himself but on the three employees and his immediate family as well," the court was told.

"It would effectively put him out of business for good.

"He has accepted it's very serious, but having said that, this is the first offence, he has not been convicted of this kind of offence before.

"He isn't stupid, he knows why he is here today. He has been suffering from depression for some time."

Simon Jones, for the council, said: "Making this order will affect Mr Wen, but not making this order could affect the residents of Tonbridge and Malling, or anyone else who may happen to purchase food from this restaurant."

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until April 8.