A HIGHWORTH restaurant that employed illegal workers has narrowly avoided loosing its licence.

Spice Kitchen, in Swindon Street, was raided by Home Office officials back in September.

A 33-year-old man and a 43-year-old man, both Bangladeshi, were arrested inside the restaurant after checks showed they had overstayed their visa.

On Tuesday, following an application for a review by Wiltshire Police, bosses at the Indian restaurant and takeaway appeared before Swindon Borough Council’s licensing panel with the serious possibility that their trading licence could be suspended or revoked.

However, after careful deliberation councillors decided that Spice Kitchen could continue trading under its current licensing arrangement on the condition that no worker should be illegally employed and that the premises be subject to an unannounced inspection some time before January 31 2018.

A minimum of a further two unannounced audits will be held before January 31 2019 to ensure continued compliance.

A council spokesman said: “Having carefully considered either revoking or suspending the premises licence due to the employment of illegal workers, the panel, having regard to the submissions of both parties and the jointly submitted conditions, decided not to undertake such sanctions on this occasion.

“However the panel did wish the licence holder to understand the severity of the employment of an illegal worker, even unintentionally.”

The licensing panel commended restaurant bosses on their co-operation in the matter and thought that, in this case, suspending their licence “would not be proportionate”.

The restaurant’s current licence permits the sale of alcohol on Sunday to Thursday from 8am until 11.30pm, and from 8am until midnight Friday to Saturday. There are no restrictions on opening hours.