A convenience store in Anfield has been fined thousands after mouse droppings were found scattered across floors and shelves in the shop.
A customer first alerted environmental health officers to issues at the store after concerns about 'lukewarm' hot dogs on sale on January 29,2018.
They also alerted Liverpool council's environmental team about what they said were poor and unclean conditions at the All in One store on Walton Breck Road , and officers investigated the same day.
Inside the store officers discovered mouse droppings on the floor, beneath chest freezers and on shelving units on the main floor and behind the counter.
Inspectors also found packets of food that had been gnawed by rodents and other food packets appeared to be covered in mouse urine.
There were also concerns about the lack of a hand basin or preparation table within the 'preparation area' for the hot dogs being sold.
Officers noted there was a lack of adequate attempts to control or prevent rodents and other pests getting into the store and there was no contract to manage pest control issues.
Police give update on condition of toddler shot in head with crossbow arrow
Dust and food debris littered the floors and shelves which officers said showed a poor standard of cleaning that gave the rodents a constant source of food.
The grim discoveries posed an 'imminent risk to public health' according to officers and the store agreed to voluntarily close to try and fix the catalogue of food hygiene isuses.
The store reopened on February 7 when it was decided there was no longer a risk to public health.
Today Trading Post News Limited, who ran the store at the time, admitted three food safety and hygiene offences at Liverpool Magistrates Court .
Driver 'fleeing police' smashes Audi into lamp-post yards from college
The company was fined a total of £1,800 for the offences, ordered to pay £2,000 towards the council’s costs as well as a victim surcharge of £170.
District Judge Andrew Shaw commented that it was clear to anyone applying common sense that the store had “a serious mouse infestation”.
A spokesman for Liverpool council said: “Poor stands of food hygiene pose a serious risk to public health and we welcome this sentencing.”
