A branch of a bakery famous for making the world's biggest hot cross bun has been fined for selling mouldy food.

A customer complained after buying a mouldy cream horn from RJ Pegrum in Chichester Road, Bognor.

Food safety experts found the substitute cream it contained was being kept at room temperature when it should have been refrigerated.

The family firm, which has four shops in the Arun district including a bakery in Rustington, was fined £2,000 after admitting two offences of breaching food hygiene regulations.

Chichester Magistrates' Court also ordered it to pay £5,000 costs.

The complaint was made just days before the bakery in Brookside Avenue, Rustington, achieved the record.

The giant bun was made from 22kg of flour and 8kg of fruit.

A spokeswoman said: "We've been trading for 80 years and make thousands of cream horns every week.

"This is the first time we have ever had anything like this happen to one of our cream cakes and we are investigating exactly why it went mouldy."

Arun District Council's Cabinet member for the environment Stephen Brookman said: "We do not undertake the prosecution of local businesses lightly but the protection of public health is paramount."

Monday August 11 2003