Poundland has been fined £24,000 after inspectors discovered a food eaten by vermin and rodent faeces.

The company’s Whitgift Centre store was closed on November 22 last year after the problem was reported to Croydon Council inspectors by concerned customers.

Appearing at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday June 19, Poundland admitted five summonses of breaching General Food and Food Hygiene Regulations brought by Croydon Council.

The court heard the chain had been caught resealing packs of food which had been chewed on by rodents, and a dead mouse was found among shelves by inspectors.