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A convenience store operator has been ordered to pay more than £13,000 after mice droppings and a dead mouse were found on the premises.

Food including packets of crisps and chocolates had been gnawed by mice at the Best In Late Shop on Atwell Street, Liverpool, Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard.

Liverpool City Council environmental health officers visited the store in October 2024, following a complaint of a mouse sighting, and they found it to be infested with rodents.

Operator Freshone Ltd admitted five breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations in a hearing on 27 November. The shop has since reopened and a second inspection in May this year awarded it the top food-hygiene rating.

After the court hearing, Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture, said conditions at the Best In Late Shop when their environmental health officers first visited were “truly horrific”.

During that inspection, the officers found clear and concerning signs of inadequate pest control, a council spokesperson said.

“There were mouse droppings found throughout the shop, including on the display shelving storing food and on floor surfaces,” they said.

“Mice had gnawed foods and packets that were on sale to customers, including crisps and chocolates, while a dead mouse was also found under a freezer.”

The court heard conditions were so unhygienic, the shop was immediately shut down because it presented an imminent risk to health.

The store was also awarded the lowest food hygiene rating of zero.

A council spokesperson said more than 55 mice were caught during the store’s enforced closure.

The operator was fined £5,333 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and £5,694 in costs to the council.

Best In Late Shop was allowed to reopen following a second inspection, which saw significant improvements, a council spokesperson added.

They said it was inspected again in May this year, when it was awarded a food hygiene rating of five.

Doyle added: “We take food hygiene and safety extremely seriously and this goes to show that we will take definitive action if a business fails to meet its legal requirements,” he said.

He said the council was pleased to see the business had “owned up to its mistakes and has used our recommendations to fully turn things around, which is ultimately what we would want to see happen”.