A BURY retailer has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 for selling rotten fruit and vegetables.

Mohammad Akram, director of Kashmir Super Store (KSS) Ltd, of Rochdale Road, was fined at Bury Magistrates Court on November 29, following a nine month investigation by the Rural Payments Agency’s (RPA) Horticultural Marketing Inspectors (HMI).

An inspection conducted on March 17 this year found six displays in breach of the EU marketing rules for fresh produce quality and labelling, including rotten honeydew melons and shelling peas.

Akram did not appear before the court and both he and the company were found guilty of all charges. He was fined £2,640 and £2,009 costs and the company was fined £3,960 and £2,009 costs. A £120 victim surcharge was also applied. Alison Johnson, of the RPA, said that HMI had tried to work with the business through face-to-face meetings, verbal warnings and written notices.