A budget store in Croydon town centre has admitted health and safety and food safety charges in court after it was found with an ‘out-of-control’ rodent infestation.

After receiving a complaint from a member of the public, Croydon Council’s food safety officers visited Poundworld in North End.

They found the store dirty and littered with mouse droppings, food on display that had been gnawed and rodent faeces and urine over packaging and products.

Some of the gnawed products had been “repaired” with tape and returned to shelves for sale.

When council officers consulted with store management, the immediately agreed to stop selling food.

The basement and storage areas were also found to be contaminated with mouse droppings, while some areas were dark. The goods lift was not working, which meant staff had to manually carry goods up to the shopfloor – for which council officers found there was no risk assessment carried out.

They also found no hot water, inadequate heating and poor housekeeping, which resulted in stock being left in a haphazard or dangerous manner.

At Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday, May 23, Poundworld admitted five food safety offences and two breaches of health and safety at work regulations.

Sentencing has been adjourned until September 20.

Croydon Council’s director of safety Andy Opie said: ““It’s shocking that a large, well-established town-centre store can let matters of food safety and the well-being of its staff slip to such a degree.

“Such was the store management’s level of complacency toward these matters, the health of shoppers, from contaminated food, and of staff, by the Health & Safety Act offences, was put at risk.

“Thanks to the diligence of our food safety team, the rodent infestation has been eradicated and Poundworld has taken the necessary actions to put right the health and safety measures.”

A Poundworld spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the circumstances that were allowed to occur in our Croydon store. The health and safety of our customers and staff is of the upmost importance to us.

“Since these issues were brought to our attention in February 2016, we have significantly strengthened our compliance team and now work with a nationwide contractor that assists us with managing issues such as those we faced in Croydon.”