THE owner of a popular food shop at the centre of a major salmonella outbreak could face prosecution, it emerged this week.

Robson's Fresh Foods in Stanley, was identified as the only possible source of the food bug, which infected at least 88 people during the summer.

Environmental Health officers at Derwentside District Council have been preparing a file that will be handed over to the authority's legal department. A decision on whether they will prosecute store owner Michelle Robson will be announced next month.

The council closed down the pie and cooked meat shop in July with a prohibition order.

Environmental Health team leader Keith Errington said: "The order can be lifted at any time, on the condition that the premises is disinfected.

"Once we are satisfied that work has been carried out, we will lift the order and the shop can re-open."

In a report published on Tuesday, health officials conceded that the exact source of the infection will never be known.

The multi-agency Outbreak Control Team remains convinced the focus was Robson's Fresh Foods, but its findings as to what exactly happened are inconclusive.

Bruce Willoughby, specialist registrar in public health, who prepared the report, said: "It was highly likely the confirmed cases were associated with the consumption of food from these premises."

He said it could have been spread either through cross-contamination of products, or one of the store's 12 food handlers, if they had been infected, could have acted as a carriers.

Officers twice took swabs and food samples from the shop, but could not find any evidence of the salmonella bug. Staff hygiene practices were also investigated and found to be without fault.

The first cases of the food bug were reported in late July. The outbreak was declared over by mid-August.

The ages of those infected ranged from three to 82. In total, nine people were admitted to hospital. Eleven of the 88 confirmed cases were guests at two functions catered by Robson's.

No one single food type from Robson's was to blame, although most of the salmonella victims had eaten chicken or another cooked meat from the store.

The family of Brian Hume, 66, of Flint Hill, Stanley, who almost lost his life to the bug, reacted with anger this week.

His son Ian said: "He is still infected with salmonella. It is in his gall bladder and he may have to have another operation to remove it. He has been told he could be a carrier for the rest of his life."

Mr Hume has also started compensation proceedings.

The shop proprietor was unavailable for comment. But the report states that she co-operated fully with the team throughout the crisis.