A SLAUGHTER house on the outskirts of Taunton faces a court bill of nearly £50,000 after it was found guilty of breaching food safety and hygiene laws.

Stillmans (Somerset) Ltd was found guilty at Bristol Magistrates' Court earlier this year of contravening or failing to comply with EU provision concerning food safety and hygiene.

The abattoir was also found guilty of furnishing false information under the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013.

The company was fined £14,000 for the first offence, along with costs of £30,751 and a victim surcharge of £170.

It received no separate penalty for the second offence.

Stillmans had contested the charges, which related to its operation at Staplegrove Mills, Staplegrove.

Stillmans (Somerset) Ltd is based at Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton.

The company also has butcher's shops in Tiverton and Taunton.

On the website of the company, which was founded in 1935, it says: "Stillmans has a long established reputation of only handling the finest goods.

"We can assure you that all our products come from well sought after local farms, with only kindness and care in mind.

"Stillmans' meats have been fed naturally from pasture to plate.

"Purveyors of quality meats, we can assure a good quality of life within natural surroundings."