The boss of a popular Indian restaurant has pledged that improvements have been made after inspectors found cockroaches in the kitchen and mould growth on dirty food containers.

It emerged last week the Lateef eatery in Sittingbourne had been hit with a one-star hygiene rating after the creepy crawlies were found – with one of them appearing "to have an egg sack that had hatched".

The visit by Swale council officers was last September but the details have only just been released because of the way the local authority handles such information.

And although inspectors have since returned to the Bell Road-venue and discovered improvements, Lateef has not applied for a re-inspection so its rating remains one-star.

The official report says: "There was food being stored in dirty containers. For example, there were prepared vegetables being stored in a 'Hellmann’s' container that had dirt and mould growth around the edges and on the handle."

During an earlier visit on Wednesday, August 31, the inspector had placed cockroach traps in the kitchen.

When he returned the following month he noted all of the traps had caught the pests.

He added: "All four had what I believe to be cockroaches at various stages of the lifecycle on them, including one adult which appeared to have an egg sack that had hatched.

"Furthermore, there were what I believe to be two small cockroaches crawling on the wall above the fire exit in the kitchen."

Speaking on Friday, a spokesman for Lateef said: "Since the inspection, what's happened is that the company who owns the restaurant has changed.

"But Swale council aren't returning to re-evaluate us. But when they do come back it is going to get a five-star guaranteed anyway.

"We're quite confident we don't have a pest issue and we have everything lined up ready for inspection, they've just not been in to do it."

However, the council – which is based across the road from the restaurant – says the reason for Lateef not being re-scored is because the business hasn't reapplied for a £168 re-rating inspection.

A spokesman explained: "The premises remains operating under the same name as the previous inspection, with the same sole director, and they are welcome to reapply for a re-rating inspection in the usual way.”

Earlier this month another Sittingbourne restaurant owner defended his business after also being slapped with one star.

Baba Coban, of the newly-opened Cinar Kitchen, hit out at Swale council after his business was marked down due to a damaged ceiling.

In Lateef's report, the inspector said adequate treatment and works were undertaken to address the cockroach issue and he spoke to SOS Pest Control and understood there was due to be a fourth cockroach treatment on September 14.

During the inspection it was also noted there was a damaged electrical blanking plate on the wall behind a double fridge.

The inspector said: "This needs to be repaired or replaced to enable adequate cleaning."

He noted this issue was also flagged at a previous visit.

Hand contact points in the kitchen, including switches, sockets and taps, were also identified as being dirty.

The inspector said: "These need to be cleaned in an appropriate fashion and kept clean.

"There was also water leaking through the ceiling above a light fitting in the kitchen.

"Furthermore, ceilings are to be constructed and finished to prevent the accumulation of dirt and to reduce condensation, the growth of undesirable mould and the shedding of particles."

It was stated the leak and any subsequent damage to the ceiling needed to be repaired.

There was also mould growth on the seals of the kitchen's double fridge.

Another issue flagged was the electric fly killer in the kitchen which was full of moths and flies.

The report added: "This needs to be cleaned and regularly emptied. The business should ensure the UV light bulbs are changed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions."

There was also grease dripping from the extractor canopy filters.

The inspector said: "There was also significant grease running down the external wall below the extractor duct near where the bins are stored.

"Staff were unable to tell me when the extractor was last serviced. This may also lead to a fire hazard and as such this matter will be passed to the Kent Fire & Rescue Service."

At the time of the inspection there was also electrical trunking hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen above the fire exit with no end cap and was visibly dirty inside.

The restaurant was advised to clean this at the inspector's previous visit.

Following the inspection several recommendations were given to the restaurant.

This included that Lateef employ a pest control contractor to undertake regular inspections of the premises.

When KentOnline visited the restaurant on Thursday, a five-star hygiene sticker was outside in a lockable information box.

There was also a four-star hygiene rating sticker on its front door.

When asked why these were still being displayed, the Lateef spokesman said it was because the key had been lost for the box.

He didn't explain why the door boasted the wrong information and didn't comment further.

The restaurant, which specialises in Indian, Asian, Balti, Bangladeshi cuisine, has 248 reviews on Tripadvisor with an average rating of 3.5 out of five.