Environmental health officers are investigating a number of complaints about a city centre restaurant, it was revealed today.

The Safin Middle Eastern take- away, in Ivegate, Bradford, is the focus of the probe by Bradford Council's environmental health department.

The complaints relate to waste disposal and the smells and smoke coming from the premises.

Kate Gabriel, the Council's acting principal environmental health manager, said: "We are investigating a number of complaints which may result in formal action."

Mohammed Hassan, owner of the Safin, said he had inherited several problems when he took over the business three weeks ago.

But Mr Hassan said most of these issues had now been addressed in the short time he had been in charge.

The restaurant has introduced new policies to dispose of trade waste and cooking oil, which were the subject of some of the complaints.

And problems relating to smoke and smells are also being addressed by a new extractor system which takes fumes upwards and clear of adjoining properties. Mr Hassan added that the restaurant had also been given a clean bill of health from the pest control department, although he said there had been problems in the past.

Meanwhile, the second and upper floors of the building, which are used as a caf and games room, have had to be closed.

Mr Hassan said: "The two upper floors have been shut down because of concerns over building control and fire safety."

He said the floors had been closed because there was no fire alarm or suitable fire exit.

The main restaurant on the first floor of the building remains open as normal.

Mr Hassan said: "I have already sorted out a lot of the problems, which I didn't know about when I took over but there is still quite a lot for us to do."

Trade waste is now collected six times a week instead of five, meaning there is less time for waste to build up outside the building.

Meanwhile, the restaurant has struck up a new deal with a company which picks up cooking oil on a regular basis to prevent it being disposed of in other ways.

Some of the complaints are thought to have come from nearby businesses.

e-mail: will.kilner@bradford.newsquest.co.uk