China House, once described as a ‘ticking timebomb’, closed its doors to customers for the last time.

The ‘deathtrap’ Chinese restaurant in Aqueduct Street has for sale/to let boards up and weeds growing in the doorway.

Heath and safety inspectors on checking the premises earlier this year were amazed at how many regulations had been broken. There was a real fear that leaking gas pipes poised a danger to neighbouring houses.

Fire experts said faults could have caused an explosion that would have flattened streets and shut down the West Coast mainline.

The restaurant, which also was suspected of having been a brothel and a lap dancing den, continued to trade despite having its licence withdrawn leaving local residents outraged.

The restaurants owners, Wen Qiang Cai and Yun Qin Weng, said they were planning to appeal to the magistrates court to keep their licence. However, no life has been seen in the building for a while.