A RESTAURANT which served a customer with an ingredient to which they were allergic, has been ordered to pay more than £10,000.

In February, the Garden of India served a customer with a severe pepper (capsicum) allergy, an onion bhaji.

The customer checked twice when ordering and was told by an employee that there were no peppers in the bhaji. But it did, in fact, contain green pepper.

The customer only realised this when she had eaten the food and began to go into anaphylactic shock.

Garden of India York and its director Shahin Miah, 46, of Colwyn Road, Leeds pleaded guilty to offences under the Food Safety Act.

In mitigation, the business said it has been running for 26 years and this is only their second time in court, it’s willing to take advice and has improved procedures

York Crown Court imposed a £3,334 fine for the company, a £1,800 fine for Mr Miah and £5,587.66 costs.

Cllr Andrew Waller, deputy City of York Council leader, said it was a "concerning" case.