A HORRABRIDGE baker was ordered to pay £600 by Plymouth magistrates last Wednesday, after one of his cakes was found to contain plaster pieces and flakes of paint.

Colin Honey, of Honey's Bakery in Station Road, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Food Safety Act 1990 of producing food unfit for human consumption.

The case was brought against Mr Honey by West Devon Borough Council.

Borough solicitor Catherine Offen told magistrates that a couple from Yelverton complained to the council's environmental health department when they found 'gritty bits' in a 'choc and maple' cake made by the bakery.

Further investigation revealed that the cake contained 19 pieces of stone, plaster and paint flakes.

The court heard that when council environmental health officers Andrew Avens and Ian Luscombe visited Honey's Bakery, they found the premises in poor repair.

The officers told magistrates that food ingredients were stored in open bags and plaster and paint was flaking off the walls and ceiling. They also found further poor hygiene practices at the premises and Mr Honey was served with improvement notices.

Mrs Offen added that Mr Honey had now fully complied with the enforcement notices served by the council to bring the premises up to standard.

Paul Tilsden, defending, told magistrates that Mr Honey had been a baker for 20 years, worked long hours and had no previous convictions.

He said that Mr Honey had striven to comply with the improvement notices and the council was now satisfied with his premises.

Mr Honey was fined £200 and ordered to pay £400 costs.