Covent Garden Tesco closes over “serious” mouse problem

A bustling Tesco store in the heart of London's West End has been forced to close following the discovery of a “serious mouse problem”.

Environmental health inspectors found an infestation amid "dirty conditions" at a Tesco Metro in tourist hotspot Covent Garden.

The store has been closed until a thorough clean-up has taken place and pest control measures have been enforced.

A poster on the store's door said that it had been shut because of "serious live infestation of mice throughout the premises, poor maintenance of routine cleaning, inadequate proofing against mice and direct contamination of food items". 

Westminster Council's food health and safety manager James Armitage said: "We treat the big retail companies with exactly the same approach as small high street traders - where public health is of concern, our action is swift and decisive.

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"We can confirm that a serious mouse infestation and dirty conditions were found at the Tesco Metro in Covent Garden and we have closed the premises down".

A Tesco spokesman said: "We insist on the highest standards of hygiene in our stores and are extremely concerned by this incident, which we are confident was isolated.

"The Covent Garden store is temporarily closed and we are taking urgent steps to deal with the problem. We apologise to our customers for not meeting our own very high standards on this occasion".