Poundland has been fined £10,000 after mouse droppings and urine were discovered on the shelves of one of its north London stores.
Health inspectors also found packets of food at the shop in Seven Sisters Road, Islington, had been knawed by pesky rodents, leaving food to spill on to the shelves and the floor.
The store closed the offending aisles and following complaints in April last year.
But despite several council warnings and a subsequent clean-up operation, health inspectors found more evidence of a mouse infestation when they returned to the store four months later.
Poundland was subsequently taken to court by Islington Council for breaching public health regulations.
The budget retailer admitted three charges at Highbury Magistrates court, which were failure to keep premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition; failure to ensure food was protected from contamination; and failure to have adequate procedures in place to control pests.
During the hearing on June 11, it was fined £9,750 for the breaches and made to pay costs of £2,590, as well as a victim surcharge of £120 – a total of £12,400.
A spokeswoman for Poundland said it was working to improve hygiene standards at the shop in order to ensure they complied with national regulations.
She said: “Poundland takes matters relating to the health and safety of its colleagues and customers very seriously. We are working with the local Environmental Health Office to ensure adequate procedures are in place.”
Councillor Paul Convery, the council’s executive member for community safety, said: “We are determined that food businesses follow the basic cleanliness and hygiene standards required by law to help keep customers safe.
“Businesses failing in this duty will be held to account by the council and by the courts.”
Pest Pro Environmental Services Ltd
Unit 33 Birtley Business Centre
Station Lane
Birtley
County Durham
DH3 1QT
Freephone 08000 197875
Office 0191 486 2402
Company Registration 04861253
VAT Registration GB808946688
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